[Vision2020] Right to Speak

[J Ford]

Yes, the Square is public property.  However, the STUDENTS are not the ones 
paying for its maintenance, the right to use the Square, etc.  BUT, as well 
as tax payers, they do pay fees to maintain the Kibbie Dome.  ALL of the 
students that attend UI pay these fees.  Don't you think holding an affair 
in the Kibbie that ridicules, berates and de-humanizes some of these 
fee-paying-students is just a bit of "biteing the hand that feeds you" 
syndrome?  And if some mass group wishes to use the Square or put on a 
parade downtown, etc. it comes before the community leaders for discussion 
and approval.  This Trinity thing came before NO one but the person that 
accepted the check from this group.  Where was the community input regarding 
this event?  Was the public's right to know what is happening in their own 
town considered?  Who pays for the cops to direct traffic?  How about the 
seperation of church and state?  Don't fool yourself into thinking this is 
some kind of intellectual endeavor going on...this is clearly a religious 
activity with "reformed church people" being the main participants.

I have no doubt that Doug would allow anyone to attend - but believe me if 
you use a Moscow address to register to attend, you will be checked against 
the church's rolls - if you are not listed as a currect member of the 
church, you will be watched.  I know, because it has happened in  past 
events.  When was the last time you had to register to attend anything at 
the Square, much less asked to pay $145?  Did you get the feeling the 
camaras were on you during that event?  They are at these "festivals" that 
Doug holds.

Again, yes - Doug has a right to say what he will as he sees fit - heck, 
who's going to stop him?  But why do the tax paying/student-fee-paying 
public - the brunt of his digs, jabs, hatred - have to foot the bill?  Why 
can this event not be held at the Logas building?

I ask again - when was the last time WSU allowed such an event - a clearly 
RELIGIOUS event - to be held on their property?  Or ANY publicly funded 
institution?




>From: "Kai Eiselein" <editor at lataheagle.com>
>To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] Right to Speak
>Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2005 10:54:37 -0800
>
>Is not Friendship Square public property? Is is not funded by taxpayer
>money? Public property is public property.....if one group is allowed to 
>use
>it, then why not another?
>The law school has left leaning Supreme Court justices visit each year,
>Theresa Heinz visited, all perfectly legal. At the same time only 
>presenting
>a single point of view. Should that nutty preacher that shows up and 
>screams
>at passers by be banned from the campus, or the older guys that hand out 
>the
>little Bibles? I think the are Jehovah's Witnesses.
>As long as they aren't engaging in criminal behavior, they are protected.
>Frankly, it's a dangerous road. Mark my words, once we have one right taken
>away, the others will fall like dominoes.
>How many people hate SUV and other gas guzzling vehicles? Why not protest
>the motor home show held at the dome each summer? Many people think those
>things are for the rich and they only get 4-9 miles per gallon. After all,
>they are sucking down our natural resources in massive quantities.
>
>
>Kai T. Eiselein
>Editor
>Latah Eagle
>521 S. Jackson St.
>Moscow, ID 83843
>(208) 882-0666 Fax (208) 882-0130
>editor at lataheagle.com
>
>
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