TO-WIT: SIX OF ONE
The few of you who have paid attention to my incessant ramblings over the years know of my passion for the Bill or Rights, particularly in matters of speech and religion. When it comes to these things, I unabashedly toe the liberal line – government bad, individuals good.
The first thing I did after my admission to the bar, if you don’t count ordering billing letterhead, was to sign on as a volunteer lawyer for an organization that was, is and always will be at the forefront of such things. It has been a long and loving affair, full of all kinds of subtle and gratifying rewards. For instance, at the time I first joined, I had no notion, none at all, that female nudity can sometimes be a protected liberty interest. Wow, some bonus, huh?
Now please, don’t get me wrong. Male nudity is also sometimes a protected liberty interest, of course it is, but who really cares?
My interest in these matters quite recently caused me to take on the representation of a young public high school student who had circulated an essay critical of the school administration actions in expelling other students. Recognizing how closely this student aligned himself with the plight of the expelled, the school administration moved quickly and decisively to facilitate his joining their ranks.
Because the student’s father perceived this as a free speech issue, he called the organization for help and I got the case. The first thing I did was call the father to get as much information as I could.
After we had discussed the matter, the father said “You know, I hate those damned liberals, they’re always trying to take away our freedom of speech.”
“Uh, no,” I said, “you’ve got it wrong. You see, this organization is ultra liberal, we defend freedom of speech, its what we do. It’s the conservatives who don’t like free speech, not the liberals.”
He paused, obviously mulling the matter over, and then replied “Well then, it’s the damned conservatives I hate.”
And it was then and there
© 2002, S. Sponte, Esq.