Rights vs Privileges: Central Park next weekend

[Thatguitarman]

I am a New Yorker. I WILL be in my ususal place in Central Park this coming Sunday, August 29th.

I am David Ippolito. (Go ahead - google me)

Yeah, yeah I've been reading all the articles in the paper about the city and Mayor Bloomberg trying to keep people out of the park while the Republicans are here. But, I'M gonna be there.... doing what I always do... singing the songs we love. Mostly the songs I've recently written. But, some by James Taylor, Harry Chapin, Bob Dylan, Neil Young... and, lots of others. And, like I have for the past 13 years, I'll be singing about what's in my heart... and, on my mind.

It just so happens that a few of the things that are in my heart and on my mind these days are... um.. y'know...Love... kindness... um... duplicity... war... a dangerous and morally bankrupt man who holds the presidency, surrounded by the most dangerous adminisrtration of my lifetime...

Y'know... just stuff like that.

So, I guess I'll be singing about all that stuff on Sunday, too. No big deal.
It a little scary in a way, though. (But, not for the obvious reasons. I ain't sweatin' the crowd. I believe the people descending on New York to be a PEACEFUL crowd.)

But, I'm heading to the park because, as Benjamin Franklin said, "They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither security nor liberty."

Let me tell you a quick story...

Years ago, I was getting a little perturbed at the police operating check points on the way to the beach for drunk driving. They would block of three lanes of traffic on Wantagh Parkway and check each vehicle as it came through. It would back up traffic for miles, and all I wanted to do was get to the beach.
I spoke with a good, good friend of mine who is a State Police officer and he was defending the action. I said, "Yeah, but isnt it a violation of my rights."
He worked his way through a very gray and murky area about illegal search or detainment, much of that argument with which I still disagree. But, then I said something about my "right" to drive.

He said, "No. Driving is not a 'right'. You've never heard that someone had their driving 'rights' suspended. The state can suspend your driving 'privilieges'. You don't have a 'right' to drive. It's not in the Constitution. You are granted driving privileges."

I never forgot that. Because I was wrong about something... and, I learned something.

But, the other day... I read a statement from the Mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, which is pretty consistent with the Republican attitude about our country these days. He's been talking alot about the rights of Americans to protest, to assemble, to voice dissent. One day, he made ominous comments about free speech at a news conference, saying that if people "start to abuse our privileges, then we lose them."

No.
Somebody oughta tell him.

Freedom of Speech is NOT a "privilege".

It is our "right".

And, it IS in the Constitution.

I'll see you in the park next Sunday.

And, I hope every single person in the New york area reading this right now makes plans to show up at the "CONCERT FOR CHANGE" on Wednesday night, September 1st.

Find out about the September 1st cocnert here:

http://www.thatguitarman.com

Peace

[papau]

1. The protest schedule based on the permits below

From the New York City Parks Department and Manhattan Chamber of Commerce- permits issued for demonstrations, mainly at Eighth Avenue and 31st Street, near Madison Square Garden.

Saturday

1 Christian Defense Coalition, prayer vigil.

2 Planned Parenthood of New York City, march across Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall Park, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3 Green Party, rally, noon to 6 p.m.

4 American Friends Service Committee, memorial display.

Sunday

5 United for Peace and Justice, march and rally, noon. The group is suing to hold its rally in Central Park.

6 Code Pink-Women for Peace, rally, 8 a.m. to noon.

7 Christian Defense Coalition, demonstration, 2 to 4 p.m.

8 Not in Our Name, rally.

9 Peaceful Tomorrows, anti-war exhibit.

Monday, Aug. 30

10 Disabled American Veterans, rally, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

11 New York City AIDS Housing Network and Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, march and rally from Union Square to main demonstration area, noon to 6 p.m.

12 Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, rally near the United Nations.

Tuesday, Aug. 31

13 New York Metro Area Postal Union, 2 to 5 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 1

14 New York City Central Labor Council, rally, 4 to 7 p.m.

15 “The Line,” individuals from a coalition of arts and labor groups, plan to stand along Broadway from Wall Street area to West 31st Street holding “pink slips,” 5 p.m.

16 National Organization for Women, rally, 7 to 9 p.m.

17 American Friends Service Committee, memorial display.

Thursday, Sept. 2

18 Vietnam Veterans Against the War, rally.

19 Dogs Against Republicans, show signs.

And from the NYC & Co. tourism bureau - - Free Stuff!!!!

Is the free bus ride from the airport on Sunday, AUG. 29 Delagates only? - Definitely delagates only - a complimentary MetroCard, digital camera, DVDs, books, movies passes (Loews), gift certificates and event tickets - say 7 p.m.: Take in a free Broadway play, such as "The Lion King" or "42nd Street." with next morning exercise at a New York Sports Club using free passes before your free delegate breakfasts at Bloomingdale's and Macy's from 9 a.m. to noon (Ghurka, on 57th Street and Madison Avenue, has one new set of luggage in a lottery from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m)

More food via the Republican Women in Congress reception, lunch at JPMorgan Chase world headquarters or hit Rudy Giuliani's event hosted by Sen. John McCain at Cipriani, with a free shopping toor of the Meatpacking District led by Girlshop.com, but be back in time (before 4:30) for free iced cappuccino at Club Monaco or Barneys for free cosmos- and CNN pays for dinner at the Tick Tock Diner.

Tuesday sucks until you get over to Sotheby's auction house for the 5-7 p.m. free cocktail party, unless you are already high from Waldorf-Astoria's free "wild" martinis, or you get lucky at the free view of the Mets batting practice and get an invite to the center-field barbecue, or are looking forward to seeing the U.S. Open and try today to win lottery for Wednesday games.

On Wednesday how will they keep the 6 pm New York Pops concert with the Gatlin Brothers at Central Park's Rumsey Field open to only the first 5000 GOPers? And will the free ride on Friday back to the airport be delagate only?.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. peacable assembly is also a right.