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Wednesday, April 9, 2003 |
US Constitution wins, 12-8
The Dixie Chicks and free speech controversy continues in Madison.Excerpts from The Capital Times story Council OKs free speech resolution :
Over the protests of its conservative stalwarts, the City Council passed a resolution supporting the right of Americans to disagree with President George W. Bush and other elected officials.
But several alders argued the resolution was unnecessary.
"We all know what the First Amendment says," said Ald. Paul Van Rooy, District 18. "I don't think this body needs to reaffirm the Constitution of the United States."
Ald. Cindy Thomas, District 7, called Olsen's resolution a "hollow and meaningless document." Thomas also challenged the assumption that Madison is a tolerant city, given what she implied was the city's intolerant reception to conservative views disapproving homosexuality, abortion and the regulation of smoking.
A motion to kill the resolution failed 7-13 before the measure was approved 12-5, with three council members voting present.
Well, we have some of the names, but I'd prefer it if the Cap Times would list all eight of the politicians who found themselves unable to vote in favor of the US Constitution.
An American Tune
Tuesday night, after debate, the Madison City Council came out in favor of one of the rights guaranteed in the Constitution (story from The Wisconsin State Journal, our right-wing morning paper).
After some sharp exchanges, the Madison City Council on Tuesday night reaffirmed the right of dissent and free speech amid the war in Iraq.
Ald. Ken Golden, 10th District, didn't pursue a playful proposal supporting the Dixie Chicks, who have been maligned for criticizing President Bush.
Instead, the council voted 12-5 with 3 present for a resolution by Ald. Andy Olsen, 15th District, in which the city "expresses its support for any American to freely express dissent by criticizing the president of the United States or any other official."
The resolution also opposes trading liberties for security, welcomes all freedom-exercising Americans, or French, to Madison, and reaffirms support for the First Amendment.
It doesn't mention the Dixie Chicks, the Grammy Award-winning country trio whose music has been banned from some radio stations and whose CDs have been destroyed in protest.
"This is an important matter," Olsen said. "Every time a person is successfully silenced, it encourages attacks on others."
Ald. Tom Powell, 5th District, agreed, saying, "All of us feel that crush wave of conformity that has come over the country."
But others said no council resolution was needed.
Ald. Judy Compton, 16th District, said that the council shouldn't help "pit neighbor against neighbor," and that others around the country are saying, "Those idiots in Madison, Wisconsin, are trying to do national policy again."
I'm always amazed at that last argument - I presume that one reason that many of us choose to live in America's Most Livable City is that we don't really give a damn what people who live elsewhere think.
I spent the evening at the Indigo Girls concert, and fans can check out my comments at my LiveJournal entry.
