YELLING FIRE IN A THEATRE NEAR YOU

Three situations thousands of miles and meaning from one another. Consider what they say to you...

In our American Midwest, that distinctive dedication to all things good and past -- the Amish communities -- have now spread far beyond their Pennsylvania/Ohio roots. They have quietly reached into 28 states in their inexorable march west in search of affordable, fertile farmland. Their population of friendly persuasion has doubled in just 20 years, reaching 249,000.

In the Korean peninsula there is a harshly different population that calls itself communist. A sealed-off, regimented society of millions, it is hardly "friendly" in its concept of persuasion. After losing all three games in the World Cup, the North Korean team was subjected to a 6-hour "public reprimand" in Pyongyang where it was charged with betraying the nation's "great ideological struggle." The team coach was fired, and is now working as a common laborer.

Then there is Washington DC -- land of the free and home of the brave -- where there is a very different kind of population. The proud population of undisturbed protesters who are blessedly free to march and complain whatever they wish. Right there within sight of the White House and the Capitol. Without this right to disagree with their government, our idea of democracy would be meaningless.

One small after-thought....

While the Amish and Korean populations represent mostly their own beliefs, the Washington DC protesters represent the global beliefs of democracy itself. Bred in ancient Greece, nourished in England, and institutionalized in America by our Constitution, democracy is a precious but delicate plant. To keep it flourishing it needs to be fed. But also weeded.

What weeds...? There is the 223-year-long question. Our courts have consistently argued that about the only restriction on our 1st amendment rights would be "yelling fire in a crowded theater." Having emblazoned that principle upon the national memory, the gnawing issue each court case is how exactly to define that metaphorical "yell."

Aside from the obvious examples of treason, you have to wonder about disinformation. Organized disinformation whose "yell" now has the Internet/Cable outreach of millions of citizens in a millionth of a minute. A new nine will be sitting on the Supreme Court this October. Every protester will be watching. Not, however, the fired coach who has to wonder about the "ideological struggle" he and we are still in.