Conventions block dissent

By The Daily Progress

Published: September 4, 2008

In 2005 and 1993, our own Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protec-tion of Free Expression gave its satiric Muzzle Awards to both the Democratic and the Republican national conventions.

We don’t know if this year’s conventions eventually will be seen as among the nation’s worst examples of free-speech infringement for 2008, worthy of an “award,” but curtailment of free speech is unfortunately alive and well.

At the current GOP event in St. Paul, Minn., the city has set up an Open Forum Stage outside — way outside — the Xcel Center where the convention action is taking place.

Three security gates bar the way and guards patrol the area. Those who come to speak have no hope of addressing delegates or being heard by politicians.

Sounds like those “protest zones” the Chinese created and Beijing to push “undesirable” expression into the shadows. Are we copying them — or are they copying us?

“Free speech is being relegated to these out-of-the-way places, so your message doesn’t get out to anybody,” said Stephen Anderson, a 79-year-old rancher who drove from Alma, Kan., to speak at St. Paul’s Open Forum.

He’s right.

“Free-speech zones” — places specially designated for people to speak their minds, called “free-speech cages” by many — have been around for a while.

But in many contexts lately, they’ve been expanding.

And that means free speech has been shrinking.

Political events are prime ground for curtailment of free speech. Organizers don’t want disagreement, much less protest, to mar the ideal image they’re trying to create. So public protests — even quiet speeches of disagreement — are relegated off site.

Until recent history, political conventions were rousing, even contentious gatherings, with opportunity for unscripted detours. Now they are tame, staged publicity events full of TelePrompted speeches — but short on red-blooded free speech.

Marketing experiment

That’s a cool experiment going on over at the University of Virginia.

Charlottesville City Market vendors have headed over to UVa to bring fresh produce and homemade goods to the university community. The first market was Monday at Newcomb Plaza.

The Student Council’s environmental sustainability committee helped get the market on campus.

On Saturdays in summer, the downtown City Market is jammed with activity.

Still, many UVa students (and faculty) may never experience that phenomenon or enjoy the homemade, homegrown products.

Bringing the market to campus is a great idea.

“Even if they don’t buy anything, at least they’ll get a taste of what’s going on downtown on Saturday morning,” said Ben Chrisinger, co-chair the sustainability committee.

True.

But they’d better buy something, too.

Otherwise, the City Market’s campus spin-off will become a failed experiment.