Melder's Musings

Military Mom Cindy Sheehan is escorted into the U.S. House of Representatives Chamber by security personnel shortly before being arrested and forced out of it. (Reuters photo)

As if illegally tapping the phones of American citizens wasn't enough, apparently our rights to freedom of speech are also now null and void. In Bush's America, a t-shirt that someone doesn't like is enough to get you arrested.

Military Mom Cindy Sheehan was arrested tonight. What was Sheehan's crime? Sheehan broke the law by sitting quietly in the U.S. House Chamber, as a guest of Rep. Lynn Woolsey, before the President's address.

Sheehan was wearing a t-shirt with some sort of anti-war slogan. As a mother whose son was taken by the war, I would think that's her prerogative so to do. As an American citizen guaranteed certain rights by our Constitution, I would think that would be anyone's prerogative.

In a flagrant violation of her rights and a slap in the face to a Democratic member of Congress, Sheehan was arrested by Capitol Police and charged with unlawful conduct. Previous reports that Sheehan was going to unfurl some sort of banner are flat wrong. With today's stringent security standards, she probably wouldn't have made it through the door with any banner.

Maybe the Capitol Police should arrest Republicans for booing down the Democrats when they applauded. Maybe the Capitol Police should arrest Democrats for keeping their seats while Republicans jumped up like eager lapdogs. Maybe the Capitol Police should arrest the guests of the President who wore traditional Muslim clothing. After all, there could have been a weapon of mass destruction under those robes and scarves.

If you found any of the last paragraph ridiculous, I congratulate you for your recognition of stupidity. You should also find the arrest of Sheehan, who did nothing more than accept an invitation while wearing a controversial shirt, incredibly stupid.

The hypocrisy of tonight's arrest is staggering. The flag over the Capitol building flies at half-staff for a woman who dedicated her life to a campaign of civil disobedience...the very same thing Sheehan has committed herself to. The President, after Sheehan's arrest, paid verbal tribute to the very same woman for whom the flag was lowered.

Perhaps, though, I am more hurt than surprised. After all, we live under a president who allegedly called our Constitution "just a god damn piece of paper."