Just what's happened to plain old dissent?

[Shallah Kali]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/462/4927337.html

There are probably many more such incidents to come. Minnesota is a "battleground" state in this year's election, and the emphasis is on "battle." And we're not alone: Free speech is in trouble across the country. Peaceful protesters are being forced away from political events; average citizens are being required to sign "loyalty pledges" stating that they support a candidate before being permitted to attend rallies; others have been arrested for simply wearing T-shirts expressing contrary views.

Many of these incidents are not even reported. But there seems to be a pattern: Thursday's New York Times mentioned an incident during President Bush's July 13 visit to Duluth (the same event at which the three teens were arrested). It seems that Secret Service agents posted photos of men not welcome at the Bush rally. One was a local homeless activist. Another was a pointy-headed professor and Green Party activist named Joel Sipress who apparently ended up with his face plastered at security checkpoints just because he helped organize (openly and legally) an anti-Bush rally six blocks away.

When the Secret Service puts your picture up, you get a little nervous.

"It's troubling," says Sipress, 40, a professor of American history at the nearby University of Wisconsin-Superior who ran for the Minnesota Senate in a 2002 special election and got 37 percent of the vote. "There are periods in the history of this country in which dissent comes to be viewed as subversion. I don't think we're at that point yet, where people need to be in fear of speaking out. But there are signs we might be headed in that direction."

[Shallah Kali]

1. Nick Coleman has written some good articles about this problem

with specific cases. If some has posted these previously I apologize for duplicating them but as they are new to me here are the links:

<b>Politicos, cops and intolerance</b>
http://www.startribune.com/stories/357/4902095.html

On July 13, Odin Ringsred, one of the twins, pasted his shaggy hair to one side and painted a Hitler mustache on his face. While Bush was inside the arena speaking to 7,000 supporters, Odin was outside, holding a handmade sign that had the president's name and swastikas on it. It wasn't very subtle. But it was within the rights of Americans who object to the direction their country is going and who want to jab Republicans for blindly supporting the president (that's how Odin sees them).

One of the president's supporters went bonkers when he saw Odin's cardboard sign and grabbed it. The guy tried to tear the sign in two, but he didn't have the hand strength. Odin grabbed it back, and there was some more jostling as the guy tried to push Odin behind him and Odin squirmed back in front of him to wave the sign. Curses started flying, along with insults from all sides, including from the so-called grownups.

"They were yelling, 'Go back to your meth lab,' " Miles says. " 'Get a job,' 'Baby killers' -- things like that."

Miles, it must be noted, was wearing a dress, which he figured was another sure-fire way to irritate Republicans. There is nothing like a teenager for understanding how to needle an adult.

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<b>Even more firmly held convictions</b>
http://www.startribune.com/stories/357/4913837.html

"A true patriot always questions his government," he says, standing near the family car, which has a bumper sticker reading, "My Daughter's in the Air Force." Then he says: "Our responsibility is to keep the government on the straight and narrow."

Since last fall, Gipsky has done his part by posting a series of provocative statements in front of his home on Ibis Street, criticizing the Bush administration, opposing the war in Iraq and raising pointed questions about the nation's economic health and the growing clout of corporations.

It's drive-by democracy: Passersby can ignore his sign or slow down to read it. If they agree, they give Gipsky a thumbs-up; some even stop to knock on his door and thank him. If they disagree, well, they can just keep going.

But with the political season heating up and Minnesota's status as a battleground state coming into focus, the culture war has jumped the curb in Coon Rapids. Twice last month -- including July 4th, the anniversary of the birth of freedom -- vandals destroyed Alex Gipsky's sign.

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<b>Hearing Bush took some doing</b>
http://www.startribune.com/stories/357/4925396.html

After riding a Bush bus to the quarry, Walz and the kids got off to go through the metal detectors and have their IDs checked. Bush officials took the kids aside and thoroughly inspected them. When one was discovered to have a Kerry sticker on his wallet, they were ordered back onto the bus.

Walz objected, and he was asked to leave, too. "You're not welcome," a Bush guy said. "Get back on the bus."

(snip)

So you support the president? a Bush guy asked. I didn't say that, said Walz. Then you're an opponent? I didn't say that, either, said Walz, thinking it was nobody's business.

"If you don't get on that bus," the guy said, "you'll be detained by the Secret Service for interfering with a presidential event."