The United States Bill of Rights is a glimmer of ineffable truth.
It protects us from government, provides freedom for our voices and arouses the part of our being we cannot see nor touch, but can always feel - the human spirit. The emotions of righteousness it generates can be so strong that we often want to project the beliefs about our rights throughout all of the world. We have often gone to war shouting battle cries that have their roots in the Bill of Rights.
An inherent danger of such righteousness is that the same collective consciousness that gives rise to freedom fighters can easily be twisted into a pack-mentality in groups during peacetime. This is often noticeable in government agencies, especially those concerned with security.
Last Thursday's disruption of free speech - in the area designated by San Diego State for just such a purpose - was a clear violation of students' civil rights and an illustration of the inherent dangers of state-level bureaucracy.
Several University Police officers interrupted a peaceful demonstration by Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/a de Aztlan de SDSU for more than 10 minutes for the purposes of checking MEChA's permit to assemble. One officer confronted the opening speaker and obstructed the microphone, while other officers unplugged the sound system. After the permit was produced by MEChA and verified by police, the officers remained on scene and proceeded to stand guard over the assembly.
Several important questions need to be asked in regard to this incident.
First, why aren't campus police notified of events that take place on the Free Speech Steps? If an organization wanted to have a parade in Downtown or assemble on the steps of City Hall, you can bet the San Diego Police Department would be notified. Any gathering on the Free Speech Steps can cause a disruption of pedestrian traffic, and has the potential to incite conflict - verbal or otherwise - among students. University Police should be informed of any event that takes place at this location.
Second, I have witnessed dozens of events at the Free Speech Steps and around Aztec Center and have not once seen University Police stop one to investigate its "legitimacy." Why did officers feel the need to question whether MEChA had observed the required SDSU protocols for staging an event? For this question, at least half of the answer is known. Apparently, another party phoned in a noise complaint about the gathering, according to police. However, this begs a further question: Why couldn't police have checked for a permit with Associated Students' Meeting Services - the agency that issues them - whose office is a mere 50 feet from the Free Speech Steps?
Lastly, once the valid permit was produced, why was it necessary for officers to remain and monitor the event? This was nothing but adding insult to injury - it was an offensive show of force and a misuse of power.
MEChA demanded a public apology, disciplinary action of the officers involved and training of University Police in U.S. Constitutional rights and A.S. policy. These are valid demands, but University Police have stated they will not address them. However, police have met with MEChA and discussed the incident and how it could have been handled better.
The American view of civil rights is clouded by two misconceptions: 1) Americans often take for granted what we believe to be our inalienable rights, and 2) Simply because the progenitors of our nation - who were a confederation of white Anglo-Saxon Protestant men - took a piece of parchment and wrote down beliefs they considered right, does not mean they actually were.
Although basic themes remain, the civil rights of the Founding Fathers must be allowed to evolve at the same pace as the populations and people they apply to. Thus, the Bill of Rights - originally established for white male landowners - has grown and matured to include people of all colors, women and naturalized citizens. This is progress. What we don't ever want to see is abrogation - the abolition or annulment of our rights - by authorities.
Some may say the recent incident is being blown out of proportion, that it was a minor infraction of students' rights - perhaps just an unfortunate circumstance and nothing more.
These are the same people who forget the nobility and significance of civil rights. Their sense of history is shortsighted, and they have little recollection or recognition of more than 200 years of hard-fought battles to secure these rights in this country. Even a minor lack of respect for civil rights is insidious, and is the seed for greater and more prolific ignorance.
It is said that America is a free country. Free, is a loaded word - freedom, even more so. As for rights - who can say what's right? But we do have laws and protections guaranteed by the Constitution.
Ours is an age in which actions by rogue militants and terrorists have incited governments to restrict - and in some cases rescind - citizens' fundamental rights that are prescribed in their national charters.
We must make every effort to maintain the rights we have left.
-Ben Tambaschi is a biology and religious studies senior and is the assistant opinion editor for The Daily Aztec.
-This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com. Anonymous letters will not be printed - include your full name, major and year in school.
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