http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/03/04/iraq.usa.shirt.reut/index.html
[I’ve removed the poll because of its incendiary phrasing, notwithstanding tongue-in-cheek intent. I’d like to remind you that I believe that discussions on the subject of Iraq will be divisive, and that there are probably better fora for such discussions. --rich ]
Scary.
The principle of my school is very “patriotic”, and she’s been known to confront kids wearing similar shirts like that one. Ones that aren’t even anti-war, just pro-peace. Grr.
I sometimes wish there were a greater awareness for what Europe (Germany, England, France, Greece, Austria) were like right before World War I. To read the statements, the views, comments that were considered acceptable then or unacceptable is interesting, sad, and terrifying because we know what happened right after.
Absolutely frightening! What’s next, cultural sharia?
Unbelievable! 
Soineanta, that’s very sad.
Speaking up for what we believe IS patriotic.
It’s constitutionally mandated that we do so.
There’s nothing more patriotic than protesting when you disagree with the policies your government is enacting in your name.
It’s a sad, sad time we live in that speaking one’s mind in the USA, the land of the free, has become a crime and an offense against the country.
Chris
You know, no matter what your stand is on the issues at hand, you’ve gotta admit that this goes way over the line. That is friggin ridiculous, man.
Mark Twain’s definition of a patriot:
The person who can holler the loudest without knowing what he is hollering about.
You figure out where that puts me!
Chris, where’s your Mexican journal gone? I was enjoying reading it every couple of days.
-Paul
Paul, thanks for the kind words. I’ve been super busy with my language school. The journal will resume in full force next week.
Best,
Chris
I think John Lennon would be both horrified and ashamed at the insident.
Have things changed much since the Vietnam War? Have attitudes or perseptions changed since any war?
Thirty years later . . .
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
someone’s got to get them to stop taking so many drugs! Drugs are bad, dangit!
No… the rest of you wacko liberals have got to stop taking so many drugs, dangit! Drugs are bad!!
I would venture to say it’s quite the opposite!
My parents and I were discussing this story earlier today and are outraged by it!!
What sort of a country arrests someone for merely wearing a t-shirt promoting such a thing as gasp peace? What is truly infuriating 
about this particular incident is that it seems as though all of the bad people are given the right to free-speech, to express themselves - yet those who are just standing up for what is right and not creating a disturbance whatsoever are quickly silenced and chastised for their beliefs.
I see this government rapidly becoming a dictatorship. This administration is making the separation of church and state almost non-existent and is forcing their religious propaganda upon every citizen of this country - inferring that if you are a wealthy Christian war monger - you are more than welcome in this country. If you’re not, than you’re “with the terrorists”.
I am rather ashamed to live in a country which condemns those who want peace and continuously calls them “anti-American” - I do not wish to live in a country whose motto could easily be “We support war”.
More power to those who stand up against this war and try to give peace a chance!
The arrest was made for trespassing, not for the shirt itself, as the man didn’t leave when asked.
A mall is technically private property, and thus the 1st amendment is no protection, the management can kick someone out for any or no reason at all, even stupid reasons like wearing a bloody t-shirt that doesn’t fit their politics. Retarded reason to kick someone out of a mall, but the gov’t really isn’t a factor here.
PS Sara, not all christians want this war. I certainly don’t.
There has to be more to this story - no quotes from the police, DA or mall management.
very eloquent, sara, you’ve convinced me–i’m gonna sell all i own and move to saudi so i won’t have to feel ashamed of my government. by the way, am i missing something? what does this have to do with music?
OK, after doing a little more research on this, the poll on whether the US govt has gone crazy really has nothing to do with this story. Mall management requested this guy either take off his T-shirt or leave the mall, he refused to do either. They then asked the police to remove him, he refused to leave and was arrested. The mall can tell anybody they want to leave as long as it is not on the basis of race, color or national origin - a corollary would be a mall refusing to allow gang colors worn or the old “no shirt, no shoes, no service”. Whether the mall has any responsibility to allow protest and “free speech” depends on local laws, not federal.
Personally I think this was a gross mistake and over-reaction on the part of mall management, but to try to draw a conclusion that the government is crazy from this story is inaccurate and misleading
What he said.
And deliberately so.
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