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An observation on the power of words.
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Stew Richland
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It's Thursday, July 26th I felt as if I was in the movie the God Father. I was attending the Democratic Club meeting that had featured as its main speaker, Jeff Green candidate for Governor of Florida. I am a political junkie and I love to listen to politicians present their views.
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I was informed that only registered Democratic Club members were allowed to attend their meetings. I told the editorial staff of the UCO reporter that I would attend the event and that I would write an article for the September issue of the Reporter. I was under the impression that freedom of the press applies to Century Village and that the Democratic Club would appreciate the publicity.
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Mr. Green outlined his platform to a focused audience, I began to take notes for the article that I intended to write.
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On conclusion of Candidate Green's presentation the question and answer segment began. At one point, a women, sitting at a table close to me, but not in my view, asked Mr. Green a question about the types of tests teachers had to take in order obtain their teaching certification.
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She had mentioned that a member of her family had to take the test numerous times at a cost of $125 per test. This observation registered with me because I had also taken those teachers exams to obtain my Florida teaching certificate. I could not see the person making the comments since there were people blocking my view so I got up from my seat in order to identify the women who was asking the question for the purpose of discussing our mutual experiences on the teacher tests.
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Up to this point I had sat quietly concentrating on taking notes for the article that I was going to write for the Reporter. I noticed that Susan Boucher was walking across the room towards me, and in her quiet God Father tone of voice made me an offer that I could not refuse. I was told that since I was not a registered member of the Democratic Club I would have to leave.
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Even when times are uncomfortable I always find time to smile, which I did, and told her I was covering the event for the UCO Reporter and thus be allowed to report on the event. She refused to listen and told me I had to leave. Always the gentlemen, I let her escort me to the door.
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I once again told her I was covering the event for the reporter but my plea fell on deaf ears and the door closed behind me.
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I had always thought that a free press helps maintain our civilization. I did not have a secret agenda all I wanted to do was to listen and write an article that I thought would be of interest to our residents. To paraphrase Tom Paine, The rules are the rules and I accept them.
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The Democratic Club's meet and greet the candidates will not make a dent in political meetings, but it would have been nice to be allowed to be a guest. As Lincoln once observed, let the people know the facts, and let the reader draw their own conclusions.
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A Will
Rogers remark clearly summarizes
how I feel about
this incident, "Everything is funny, as long as it's happening
to somebody else." Boy am I glad that I have a good sense of humor.
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Hi Stew. You are an American. This should carry more weight than any political affiliation. I fail to understand the compulsory aspect of being registered to a party in order to attend a meeting or to vote. In Canada where our system is far from perfect, voters may lean towards a certain party but we listen to candidates, study their past accomplishments etc and vote for the person who best represent our views. I respect your great nation but living in a democracy should make it easy to listen to all candidates and make an informed choice. Your only passeport to the voting boot should be your citizenship. Andre Legault
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Andre . Also Stew was there as a reporter for the UCO Reporter to write a story. Where is freedom of the press. Is it that we have people that are so narrow minded. Stew would NEVER be biased in anything he reported. I was told that they should have sent a reporter that was democratic. I would hope people would listen to all candidates and then vote for the best for our country regardless of their affiliation. I am appalled of the discrimination shown at this club.
ReplyDeleteSome thoughts re the freedoms of the press and of speech.
ReplyDeleteRegarding "freedom of the press": The First Amendment states that " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."
(a) Originally, the First Amendment forbade only the federal government from supressing speech or press, but it has been extended to governmental bodies at every level. (See recent the Palm Beach Post article detailing Fane Lozman's SCOTUS triumph over the Riveria Beach City Council's stopping him from speaking).
(b) The Democratic Club is not a governmental body but a private association: It can act against its own interests (ejecting the deservedly respected Mr. Richland might lose some votes).
(c) The Our Village Blog, as well as the UCO Reporter, is free to publish Mr. Richland's account. As A.J. Liebling, noted journalist, once remarked: ""Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one."
(d) To shift slightly, from "press" to "speech". a Post article July 26th described two Dolphins' players defending their kneeling during the playing of the national anthem as exercising their free speech rights. Uinfortunately, or perhaps I should say, "Constitutionally", the Dolphins is a private, not governmental, organization.
There was a photographer from the Reporter taking pictures and she was not asked to leave.
ReplyDelete