Fight for your rights

Freedom. It's a word we've been hearing a lot lately. On Jan. 20, in President Bush's inauguration speech, we heard it 49 times to be exact, under the variations of "free", "freedom", and "liberty."  In fact, the word "freedom" shows up just about everywhere in the United States, from children's whale movies to pro-Tibet bumper stickers to my personal favorite, the "Free Courtney!" T-shirt.

Ironically, despite all the talk of "free," Bush's inauguration was anything but. Peanut-gallery seats at the event cost more than tickets to a Rolling Stones reunion tour and security was so tight that at one point in the parade, despite freezing temperatures, Peter Jennings noted that steam from a manhole was suspicious.

Inaugurations used to be free and, before the Bush administration, so did the United States -- a fact that frankly disturbs 50 percent of nation, which is why groups like Act Now to Stop the War and End Racism turned out en masse to protest the inauguration.

While there was sadly little debate this time around in regards to the legitimacy of November's election, there were thousands of Americans who decided to take the rights allotted them by the Constitution and make their views known.

Unfortunately, the Constitution proved to be somewhat flexible as the Department of Homeland Security turned the city of Washington, D.C. into a police state. Pieces of fruit were confiscated as potential weapons, peaceful protestors were corralled into designated barricades and pepper spray was used at whim.

Such treatment raises several questions. Namely, when did we begin to regard activists as second-class citizens? When did the possibility of change become so threatening to the administration that even former Attorney General, and now anti-war activist, Ramsey Clark was sequestered amongst the sign-carrying mass? What made the rights of Bush supporters suddenly more valuable than those in opposition?

Questions such as these prove reason enough to seek movement and change. The framers of our Constitution sought to create a nation that encouraged concerned citizens to assemble, speak out, petition for a redress of grievances and move for the perfection of the state. Or at least, that's what I remember from Mrs. Dusenbury's senior American government class. I could be wrong. Much has changed in the past two years, and not for the better.

We are often all too quick to forget that individuals such as the men who formed our country, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. were once viewed as "dangerous opposition," posing "security risks" to that respective sovereign powers. Were it not for these men and their efforts, the rights of their fellow citizens would have remained archaic and unchanged.

And while Bush would like us to believe otherwise for the sake of "unity," activism is one of the United States' oldest traditions. In truth, the concept of national unity will remain as vague as Bush's inaugural rhetoric until the thoughts and needs of "the other half" of the United States are heard and addressed.

It is an American's right to protest, just as it is an American's right listen to country music, eat excessive quantities of fast food, and drink Bud Lite -- and don't forget, without the protest of concerned masses you'd be forced to enjoy that brew within the illegal sanctuary of a speakeasy.

Freedom of speech and assembly are your rights. Use them accordingly.