Tonight Tom and I went to the city sponsored “Freedom Forum” – a monthly series which involves panelists on an issue and audience participation. Tonight’s theme was “The Freedom to Criticize the Government”. The program was aired live on KCPW Radio and will be aired on SLCTV at some point in the near future.
The panelists were:
Rocky Anderson, SLC Mayor, gave the introductory speech and introduced the panelists. Each panelist spoke followed by audience comments and questions.
The right wing panelists'(Mero, Bingham, Parezik) theme was basically conveying the message that it’s not o.k. under any circumstances to critize your government. There are some instances where it’s better to not speak out and cited Rocky Anderson’s recent criticims and outspokenness as an example.
The more progressive panelists (Firmage, Jowers, Iker, Webster) advocated dissent as a citizen’s right and a patriotic and moral duty.
Here are some photos:
Rocky Anderson:
Panelists:
Ed Firmage and Rocky:
Pete Litser, local peace activist and Director of Shundahai Network
The Reverend Daniel Webster:
Jenni Killpack-Knutsen (Jen’s Journal), local peace activist and radical cheerleader
Tom King, local peace activist and Green Party of Utah member
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 
Yikes! I do not take good photos! Oh well. Thanks for posting about the forum.
Perhaps the saddest part about this freedom forum was to see the extent to which leadership worship will cloud our judgement on such critical issues as the first amendment.
Like the loud cheers Rocky got while there are SLC reporters whom he has placed on a blacklist for writing articles critical of his administration.
They get no press releases, no interviews, and no statements. Cut out. Because they criticized the government.
“They get no press releases, no interviews, and no statements. Cut out. Because they criticized the government.”
Maybe Rocky learned a few things from the Bush Administration who have those tactics down to a fine art.
That’s my point.
Then to parade around as a martyr for the first amendment?
Hypocrisy.
Freedom Forum.
I am glad you were able to attend the freedom forum last night. I had a really good time. I thought we had a good lively debate. It would have been better to have more conservatives there though. Even though the audience was overwhelmingly liberal they were still polite and respectful and I tried to be as well.
That being said I would like to make a correction on the assessment of the meeting. The conservatives including myself did not say you should not protest the government. Heaven knows I did plenty of that during the Clinton years and you can see on my blog I have deserted quite vigorously with Rocky Anderson. Disagreeing with your government is as American as apple pie. The problem I have is with those individuals and groups that use anti American rhetoric and wish ill will on the United States. There are those who want to see us lose badly in Iraq. Enough that they support those we are fighting. People like Cindy Sheehan who have called the enemy “freedom fighters” and have said America is not worth fighting for.
When Clinton was president I opposed his policies, but I still loved my country. Our country isn’t perfect and of course mistakes are made, but we are always the first to give aid and always the last to make war. Americans have never gone into war lightly and the Iraq war is no exception. We abhor war but sometimes the alternative is worse.
Thanks again I have linked to your site. Ken Bingham
Re: Freedom Forum.
Ken again.
Why does there always have to be a pony tail guy at these things?(c8
Is it ok if I use your photos?
Re: Freedom Forum.
There’s bound to be quite a few pony tail guy pictures in Deanna’s blog, as her husband has one . . . 🙂
Re: Freedom Forum.
Hey Ken and all:
Please feel free to use my photos! Thanks for asking and especially thanks for weighing in and also for participating last night.
Ponytail Guy
I’m sorry I shouldn’t be so flippent. It just struck me as funny because it just reminded me of the debate with Bill Clinton, Ross Perot and George HW Bush in 1992.
A ponytailed guy asked a question. “how can we, as symbolically the children of the future president, expect the two of you – the three of you – to meet our needs.”
As if we are all children and the President is our daddy.
So I didn’t mean any disrespect for Tom King. I am sure he is a real swell guy.
OBTW: Thanks for letting me use the photos I really appreciate it.
Ken