Pubdate: Sun, 18 Jan 2004 Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN) Copyright: 2004 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co. Contact: http://www.knoxnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226 Author: Jeri Sweeney Note: 2 Of 3 PUB LTE on this issue in this issue FREE SPEECH ISN'T CONFINED TO ZONES I am writing in response to the story concerning the "free speech zone" that was posted on Jan. 8. It is so disturbing to see how our civil liberties are being eroded by this administration while President Bush proclaims that he is a champion of freedom. Since when is free speech confined to zones? These unconstitutional attempts to suppress protesters become even more disturbing in light of the Homeland Security Department's recommendation that local police departments view critics of the war on terrorism as potential terrorists and environmentalists as a threat to national security. Thank goodness, though, there are still some who still believe in free speech. Pennsylvania District Judge Shirley Rowe Trkula threw out the disorderly conduct charge against the steelworker written about in the story declaring: "I believe this is America." Whatever happened to "I don't agree with you, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it?" JERI SWEENEY Sevierville - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman