>
>[Yoshie, was this the way you saw it? What happened?]
>
>Date: Sun, 16 Jun 2002 14:44:52 -0700 (PDT)
>From: MichaelP <papadop at peak.org>
>Subject: Bushmen Threaten Ohio Graduates with Expulsion, Arrest
>
>
>Ohio State fascism - What happened today
> ON Jun-14-02
>AT 03:59 PM (ET)
>
>As I sit here before you, I must admit I am truly exhausted from a full
>day. I've read the thread about Ohio State on LBN, and I am here to tell
>you it is true...and then some. I'll try to hit all the details.
>
>And what happened to us is truly unbelieveable.
>
>We arrived at Ohio Stadium at 6am. A rally was scheduled at the Jesse
>Owens memorial site for that time, and the graduates were to be at their
>places by 630am. Family and friends were permitted to enter at that time
>as well.
>
>I didn't get close enough to the 6am rally, but in my search for an
>organizer of Turn Your Back On Bush, I did indeed hear the announcement.
>Graduating students were told that they would be expelled and arrested if
>they turned their backs. they were alerted that dozens of staff memebers
>and police officers would be watching the stands, as well as the Secret
>Service. A few students asked for the definition of expulsion....did it
>mean removal from the stadium or refusal of their diplomas, or both? One
>of the persons at the front said "Both. And what will your parents do when
>they are paged from the crowd to bail out their son?" I do not know if
>this person had an official capacity with the Ohio State University or any
>police department.
>
>I must say, I did not hear that exchange. I was informed of it later when
>I found outside the stadium protesting. To tell these ADULTS that after 4
>years and 80,000 dollars that they would be tossed aside if they didn't
>face a certain direction?????
>
>I began to wonder how many of those students went to find their friends
>who were graduating pre-law.....
>
>We entered the stadium later with family and friends, and similar
>statements swirled around the crowd. "Please make sure you stand and
>loudly cheer our President. Our graduates have been requested to do the
>same, and have agreed to give a loud cheer for Mr. Bush", etc.....
>
>Once inside, we decided that it might not be a good idea to be too close
>to the front. We saw the lines of people waiting to get in the
>stadium.....and yes, we saw the yellow buses that carted them all in. I
>asked one of them where they were from. The woman replied "Upper
>Arlington". However, she could not provide a zip code when I asked her for
>it (the main zip code for UA is 43221). Figuring on the masses of
>bussed-in people, we knew it might not be wise to be up front.
>
>We went behind the graduates and looked for peace signs on the mortar
>boards (a sign that was meant to ID the Turn-Your-Backers). It was really
>difficult to get an accurate count, but there were a LOT of peace signs. I
>was sure that we weren't the only ones counting peace signs.
>
>It didn't take long for our stomachs to turn....the first speaker (I
>believe the OSU President) began spouting about how proud they were to
>have Bush there. He said "We have a long tradition of inviting great men
>and women to speak at our commencements." I quickly responded "but since
>we couldn't get one, here's Georgie".
>
>That got the attention of the state trooper in front of us. His eyes were
>on me the rest of the time.
>
>The speech continued to mention that Chimpy was "a tireless worker in the
>field of education" and "a man who unified this country after the terrible
>events of 9/11". It was interesting to note that it took a LONG time for
>the 9/11 applause to turn into a standing ovation....they held out for
>that one, not continuing the speech intentionally.
>
>About 10 minutes later, Shrub was introduced to speak. Before he even got
>to the stage, we did our about-face. I looked over my shoulder to see how
>many graduates were doing the same. However, everybody was standing at
>that point, and in pure black robes, it was impossible to see who was
>facoing what direction. Furthermore, over that same shoulder, I saw one of
>Columbus' Finest heading our way.
>
>We never got to see how many students participated. We were being led out
>of Ohio Stadium. To the officers' credit, he realized there was a
>3-year-old in my arms and was not at all hostile. I asked him if I was
>under arrest, and he did not answer me. When we reached the exit, I asked
>the SS man why we had been ejected, and he told me we were being charged
>with disturbing the peace. If we chose to leave, the charges would be
>dropped immediately.
>
>With our daughter in mind, we chose not to fight it. I am sure we will
>regret it someday when Bush's fabulous economy strikes us and we need a
>few million in a lawsuit. But our daughter did not need any more
>irritation on this day.
>
>On this day, June 14th, 2002, I came to the realization that we no longer
>live in a free society. This is rapidly heading in the same way Nazi
>Germany headed. Questioning our leaders is no longer the most outrageous
>crime you can be charged with. Not paying attention to them is.
>
>As you take in this message I give to you, I would like to add a footnote.
>Next time, I will not leave quietly. Next time, I will not allow you to
>intimidate my fellow Americans who wish to speak out. Next time I will
>not be so blind when I confront you. Next time we meet, I will have more
>people with me to oppose you. Next time, I will have brought voter
>registration cards for people whose eyes I will open to your oppression.
>
>And next time, I will have a babysitter.
>
>Watch what you say, or they'll be calling you a radical, a liberal."
>-Supertramp
>
>Proud Card-Carrying Member Of The Grassy Knoll Society
_________________________________________________________________ Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: http://mobile.msn.com