Freedom Of Speech Hits New Low

In a new low in the destruction of Americans’ right to free expression and free speech, a woman got in trouble this week over the wearing of a t-shirt.

First, she was forced to cover up a t-shirt and then had to choose between removing it or getting off a plane she was on. She chose the latter and now litigation is likely.

Interestingly, not only did the message upset others on the plane, but even news articles about the incident avoided actually stating the most interesting part of the story – namely, what did the t-shirt actually say?

For example, The New York Times article about the incident avoided spelling it out. Figuring out the t-shirt message becomes like a puzzle. Let’s see, the Associated Press says the shirt has a photo of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of State Condi Rice and says it contains an expletive.

Ok, so that begs the question: What is the expletive? Some googling showed the Sacramento Bee solves the mystery in an editorial criticizing the wearing of the shirt.

Seems the shirt contains a takeoff on the movie title Meet the Fockers but with a different vowel inside it.

Funny? Not really. Dumb? Maybe. But offensive enough to warrant making someone leave an airplane? I don’t think so.

Ed/Pub:LisaM