by April Kulcsar

Created on: September 19, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

After watching the video of the young man who asked John Kerry questions at an open forum, and was detained and later tased as a result, I could not help but feel, well, helpless. Does anyone else feel as though the laws protecting our Freedom of Speech were just thrown out the window with that event? What was the man's CRIME? All he did was ask questions...and he didn't even ask any questions that journalists and the like have not already asked over the years (and were never arrested for). The Skull and Bones is not news to us any more. What was the big deal? The man did not accuse John Kerry of anything that has not already been addressed. He never asked "Mr. Kerry, did you have sexual relations with (insert name here)?" WHY WAS THIS MAN BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY? I just don't get it. I could not help but wonder, what would I have done in that situation?

Let me say this first...if I were in his position, I certainly would not have resisted the police the way he did. If I were being arrested for speaking my mind I would keep on speaking my mind, but I would not resist my arrest. I would fight it later, because clearly there were many videos out there to prove he did not commit a single crime BEFORE he was being detained by the police. He created more problems by resisting, bottom line. However, I would not have gone down without a VERBAL fight. Because isn't that what "Freedom of Speech" is?

I still am at a loss over what exactly his crime was. Simply because, he did NOT commit one, therefore, what was this all about?

Now, the other fact that puzzles me is this: If John Kerry was willing to answer the man's question (as he states) then why was the man still being arrested? Why would you arrest one of two men engaged in discussion over what points are being made if neither man is offended and the man being questioned has no problem answering? Now I have firm disrespect for John Kerry at the moment (and any other person like him who has done like things.) How can a man elected BY the people, working FOR the people just sit back and WATCH as a citizen doing NOTHING illegal is being arrested right before his eyes? Doesn't John Kerry know that it is not a crime to ask questions like that? Doesn't he believe in standing up for the people of this country? Then why did he just stand there and let the cops "do what they felt they had to do" when clearly it was absurd? John Kerry, SHAME ON YOU.

I would like to know who made the call to arrest him. Did one of the cops on duty use their own (bad) judgment? Or was there someone behind the scenes attempting to control the scenario? Whomever it was, they need to be interrogated as to what crime was being committed and why the arrest was taking place.

And the tasing part...my goodness! The young man had 6+ officers over top of him, pinning him to the ground, and they couldn't get him cuffed? Are you kidding? He certainly doesn't out-weigh those officers combined! The taser was NOT necessary, especially over a Freedom of Speech bogus "crime". Why are people being tased over speaking their mind? WHY?

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