[Winona Online Democracy]
Some of the comments on Winona High students' freedom of speech note that the "Vagina" buttons will cause some students to snicker, and the message should therefore not be allowed or taken seriously. I don't believe this is the standard by which free speech should be judged. Many important ideas that we now take for granted were laughed at when first introduced.An action such as the "Vagina" button is really a mirror - what does it say about ourselves? Some of the most successful political campaigns of the last century focused attention not on the instigator, but on the larger society within which they acted. For example, the South African government and the English in India needing to face themselves and their policies as a result of Mahatma Gandhi's campaigns, Dr. Martin Luther King requiring us to look at our own racially divided society, Hubert Humphrey exposing the Democratic Party's "shadow of states' rights" and inviting them into the bright sunshine of human rights".Phil Carlson, Mpls_______________________________________________ This message was posted to Winona Online Democracy All messages must be signed by the senders actual name. No commercial solicitations are allowed on this list. To manage your subscription or view the message archives, please visit http://mapnp.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/winona Any problems or suggestions can be directed to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] If you want help on how to contact elected officials, go to the Contact page at http://www.winonaonlinedemocracy.org
