Tribnet.com: Exercising free speech a real patriot's act

Tribnet.com - Entertainment: "We can feel scared this Fourth of July weekend. Or we can take heart and talk.
Certainly, these are frightening times for those who believe in free speech. We're living with the USA Patriot Act, and with public officials like former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer reminding Americans to 'watch what they say, watch what they do.'
But two recent scenes showed me that the First Amendment is alive and well in Western Washington.
Event No. 1 was opening night of Michael Moore's incendiary 'Fahrenheit 9/11' at Tacoma's Grand Cinema. After the movie, two Fort Lewis soldiers spoke out against the war in Iraq and against the re-election of President George W. Bush. The two young men, Edward Cruz and Andre Roberge, weren't afraid to talk to a News Tribune reporter, even when it meant their views would be aired in a community where there are two military bases and considerable support for Bush administration policies."


By DIANE DE LA PAZ
The News Tribune