Thanks Dan, for the quick follow-up. It will be interesting to watch how all the proposed lawsuits play out. It's unfortunate how all of this has transpired over "The Question". We talk on this forum about the right to free speech and other rights guaranteed by the constitution, but we have not discussed that with those rights comes responsibilities. The right to disagree but the responsibility to keep the discussion civil, the right to free speech but the responsibility to keep the speech to ideals and not personalities, the right to free association but the responsibility to be inclusive, the right to engage in political discussion but the responsibility to stay away from the politics of personal destruction.
While I believe in free speech, "the question" abridged the lines of normal decency and of responsibility. So did Fletchers' response. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? I don't know in this instance and I don't care, but I believe that all the discussion of lawsuits on both sides will end up nowhere except to waste the courts time with no side the winner (in legal terms). I also believe that the electorate is an informed electorate and will make the right decision, even if it concludes that the Sheriff shall stay. That's the beauty of of the right to vote, it also comes with responsibility. Gerry McInerney Battle Creek In a message dated 11/19/2003 9:54:35 AM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > Gerry - > > The basis of our lawsuit will be that Sheriff Fletcher > violated the First Amendment Rights of Freedom of > Speech, Association and Right of Privacy of everyone > at the Ward 5 forum who submitted a written question. > > The expectation is that when you go to a forum or > debate, such as this, and submit an unsigned card, > that your right to privacy and right of free speech, > and the right to ask a question of an elected > official, will be protected. > > It is assumed that law enforcement officers and > elected officials will protect and defend our > Constitutional rights, especially those of Free Speech > and not attack them. By seizing the question cards and > threatening members of the audience Fletcher violated > both his oath of office "To Preserve, Protect and > Defend the Constitution of the United States" as well > as taking property that did not belong to him, the > cards, that belonged to the League of Women Voters > and/or the North End News. > > Sheriff Fletcher's actions has cast a pall over the > First Amendment and Right of Free Speech in Saint Paul > and Ramsey County. People are now afraid that if they > attend a debate or forum in Saint Paul in the future > and ask a question a law enforcement officer or > elected official is offended by or dislikes, they may > seize that card and threaten, or actually bring legal > action. > > It is our intention to seek punitive damages, at the > appropriate time, in an amount sufficient to attempt > to deter any act like this, from occurring in the > future. > > Dan Dobson > 801 Goodrich Avenue > Saint Paul, Minnesota 55105 > 651-227-4376 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Regards, Gerry McInerney 651-470-7458 NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ Stpaul mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul
