The American Spectator

Reader Mail

Let the Little Girl Dance

4.16.08 @ 12:01AM

LAST DANCE
Re: R.J. Lehmann's Happy Birthday, Thomas Jefferson:

I have sympathy for Ms. Oberwetter and the rest of the Jefferson celebrators. The police were dunces without a doubt. Nevertheless, I would have advised following a general principle: don't argue legal points with the cops in the street -- take it up with a judge.

In the question of "interfering with an agency function," I am afraid Ms. Oberwetter had made a mistake in not following (if not interfering) a police order to clear public grounds. Going back to English Common Law, the police have the "presumption of authority" during encounters with citizens. This does not mean they are acting correctly or using sound judgment. It is for the most part to keep peaceful order. The proper place to peacefully resolve issues of improper use of authority is in a court before a judge.

Our dancers were perfectly in the right to make merry before Jefferson's monument. They were not harming anyone and the event had the virtue of being a little funny even to the dancers themselves. But don't be so gung ho to cast yourselves in the grand notions of little David fighting nasty Goliath much less liberty taking down tyranny.

A little proportion is called for here. There are far too many places in the world where the people would gladly welcome a rule of law legal system where the police occasionally make goofy decisions such as telling people to go home.

Fight "the power"? Take it to court. Save the "bloodletting" for when you really need it.
-- Mike Dooley
Indianapolis, Indiana

I'm dumbfounded after watching the video and reading the article. What in the hell does the U.S. Park Police think they are doing? I called the Public Information Orifice at (202) 619-7163 and apparently they do not have any comment on the incident. Never mind. I gave my own comments and I suggest anyone with a phone and a working index finger also call them and "comment" on the Jefferson 1 arrest. The behavior of the officers was completely unacceptable and Spectator readers, as well as all freedom-loving Americans, should call them on it. BTW, the Office of the Chief's phone number is (202) 619-7350 if you would like to comment; be polite but firm.
-- Michael C.
Atlanta, Georgia

The last time I looked into this and adding some of my own experience with Federal Park Police in the mix, most of the people who work for the Park Service lean towards Sierra Club mindsets or couldn't get a job with TSA. If the arresting officer(s) had any functional knowledge of the man whom this very large and expensive government monument honors they would have taken the event at midnight for what it was and moved on to something important. That's not the mindset of small-minded people when you give them authority power and a gun. This kind of event is one of the reasons I tend to favor having all government monuments charge admission and pay for themselves. The rent a cops won't have a job if they chase all the paying customers off. Self-interest is missing from this picture. Perhaps the officers in question should be transferred to the Clinton Library, where such behavior would fit right in. It the dance group plans to do this next time at midnight, I would suggest they bring some basketballs with them and play a game of hoops while they are at it. Midnight Basketball is protected speech, from what I remember.
-- Thom Bateman
Newport News, Virginia

Read the article and ya know, we are getting exactly what we deserve by allowing a feeble-minded and grossly incompetent man lead an assault on our rights. I won't mention any names seeing as how I don't want my door booted in. Somehow being "safer" has become synonymous with complete compliance AND complicity!

When the frog's totally boiled, the whining can begin in earnest.
-- Chris
Missouri

THEIR FAIR SHARE
Re: Doug Bandow's Voluntary Clinton Surtax Day:

I will go Mr. Bandow one better. I suggest that all of the liberal Democrats -- most of whom like Kerry, Kennedy, Obama, Clinton, Reid and Pelosi to name a few -- and each of the fat cat union bosses and the glitterati who support the pitiful liberal cries for increased taxes really lead the way.

I urge each and every one of them to donate a mere 50% of their full worth to any government give-away program they think worthy. It is certainly not unfair or even particularly burdensome. It would leave the Clintons, for example, with about $50,000,000 to play with. My family could easily survive and improve our financial position greatly by living on the 2.5% interest on that sum.

It would raise billions and go, unimpeded by any extraneous government waste, directly to the specific waste they support. That would inspire me greatly!
-- Jay Molyneaux
North Carolina

TAILING OGONOWSKI
Re: W. James Antle III's Cup of Jim:

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Taxes, Barack Obama, Business, Federal Budget, Law, NATO, Socialism, Oil