The latest issue of the newsletter for local anti-war protesters Kalamazoo Non-Violent Opponents shows that the group has no problem speaking out of both sides of its collective mouth. Principles, apparently, are for right wing nutcases.
In its online newsletter, KNOW has suddenly discovered freedom of speech,
Dear friends,
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY CALL! PLEASE HELP! PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO DO THIS!
THE RIGHT TO QUESTION AND DISSENT IS UNDER ASSAULT EVERYWHERE–INCLUDING HERE IN KALAMAZOO.As most of you know, the Sisters of St. Joseph have cooperated with KNOW and PAX CHRISTI to put the “silhouettes” display on their property, atop the stone wall at the corner of Gull Road and Nazareth Road. The Sunday blessing of the sign and the ceremony–with songs, prayers, petitions, readings from the Bible and the Koran–was attended by about 150 people and was very moving. If you have not been out there to see the sign, take a trip. It’s very visible as you come into town on Gull Road, and very visible from Nazareth Road, particularly as you go east.
The aftermath has been unpleasant.
Here’s a Tuesday message from Sister Janet:
First of all, let me thank you for your participation in getting the sign up and for being here on Sunday. Second, as expected, we and Borgess are getting all negative phone calls regarding the sign and even a threat to burn it down. We need to change this around.
Obviously a threat to burn down the display is crossing the line and such threats should be prosecuted. Calling to ask the display to be taken down, however, is simply other people expressing their own right to free speech, not some grand conspiracy against dissent.
But what I really find amusing about this episode is KNOW’s sudden infatuation with preserving free speech. After all this is the same group that back in October urged people to “do all we can to re-elect Don Cooney” to the city commission. One of Don Cooney’s major goals as city commissioner is the shutting down of nude dancing within the city of Kalamazoo because that speech damages families and dehumanizes women.
Of course, KNOW is correct — free speech is under attack everywhere, including Kalamazoo. And KNOW is part of that attack with its wholehearted support of pro-censorship politicians in Kalamazoo.