Before you jump me, I am not saying that the Skokie controversy was a note-by-note overture to what's going on around Ground Zero. But Skokie is worth remembering as another Bill of Rights challenge loaded with conundrums, well summarized in this University of Kansas book blurb:
When the Nazis Came to Skokie
Our rights should be exercised freely but are not free. The ACLU won in court but lost thousands of members for its decision to defend the Nazis' position.
So we can exercise our rights, but let's not feign astonishment when other people use their rights to assert a competing vision, plan or position.
No comments:
Post a Comment