But Zirkel said he was sitting in the food court drinking coffee with his wife Marie, 77, and several others when police and mall security officers approached and demanded they remove their anti-war T-shirts.
The others complied, but Zirkel said he refused, and when he wouldn’t stand up to be removed and arrested, authorities brought over a wheelchair. “They forcibly picked me up and put me in the wheelchair,” said Zirkel, a deacon at one of the poorest Catholic parishes on Long Island, where a devastating fire recently destroyed the rectory and storage areas.
To me, situations like this highlight the contradiction in terms which is capitalistic democracy — democracy meaning “people rule” and capitalism meaning that those with capital rule. Which is it? Sometimes it’s the people. Sometimes it’s the capitalists. Always it’s confusing.
The U.S. Constitution says Congress can’t abridge that guy’s right to free speech. So, he’s safe from congress. But does it matter if the mall owner can do it anyway? If we agree that free speech is essential to an enlightened, progressive society, why would we allow a minority to squelch it?
Canada’s constitution reads “2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: … (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.” It’s an affirmative protection of freedom of speech, but ours merely removes congress’ ability from restricting speech. Capitalists or any other would-be tyrants are allowed. Why?
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