Actually, it's exactly the same thing - a place you go to speak on whatever, cordoned off from decent law-abiding folk. It was created in Hyde Park, London, 300+ years ago, and many colleges use it today so that they can isolate the chanters from areas where education is happening....
I was pissed when I got pushed to the side. I also know why it was done, and I have written letters calling for the practice to cease. I don't apologize for it, but I do recognize it. I don't see things changing, really, but at least I went on record for it.
And I will not refrain from reminding people that the first rule of free speech is that you MUST accept responsibility and consequences for what you say. That means you may self-censor, or not, but whatever you choose to do will color how others see you, and you have no right to demand respect from me. Too many people claim the right to free speech, then get offended when people tell them they are idiots (which is their free-speech right, donchaknow). You may disagree, and you have the right to whatever opinion you want, but where it differs from reality...
Rights always have limits -- when your rights and mine conflict, why should yours take precedent? They don't, as far as I'm concerned, but I'll bet you will disagree. Rights collide all the time, and each is arbitrated casewise. They won't be alienated (removed by the government), but there is no reason to expect that your rights are without response, without action, and without suppression when appropriate.
You're wrong about Rosa Parks. We in the south were taught a lot about her. She is quoted as saying, "The only tired I was, was tired of giving in." She also wasn't sitting in the front of the bus, but in the middle, where the dividing line floats depending on bus demand. It's not like she stopped in the first seat, but she moved to a valid seat, and got incensed when asked to move to allow a white man to sit down. She was tired of complying with a stupid rule. She wanted it changed.
Re: fascism
I was pissed when I got pushed to the side. I also know why it was done, and I have written letters calling for the practice to cease. I don't apologize for it, but I do recognize it. I don't see things changing, really, but at least I went on record for it.
And I will not refrain from reminding people that the first rule of free speech is that you MUST accept responsibility and consequences for what you say. That means you may self-censor, or not, but whatever you choose to do will color how others see you, and you have no right to demand respect from me. Too many people claim the right to free speech, then get offended when people tell them they are idiots (which is their free-speech right, donchaknow). You may disagree, and you have the right to whatever opinion you want, but where it differs from reality...
Rights always have limits -- when your rights and mine conflict, why should yours take precedent? They don't, as far as I'm concerned, but I'll bet you will disagree. Rights collide all the time, and each is arbitrated casewise. They won't be alienated (removed by the government), but there is no reason to expect that your rights are without response, without action, and without suppression when appropriate.
You're wrong about Rosa Parks. We in the south were taught a lot about her. She is quoted as saying, "The only tired I was, was tired of giving in." She also wasn't sitting in the front of the bus, but in the middle, where the dividing line floats depending on bus demand. It's not like she stopped in the first seat, but she moved to a valid seat, and got incensed when asked to move to allow a white man to sit down. She was tired of complying with a stupid rule. She wanted it changed.