August 23, 2004 6:22 AM

You have freedom of speech, until someone in a position of power disapproves

Graphic designer fired after heckling Bush at West Virginia rally

It used to be that freedom of speech meant exactly that- the freedom to express one's point of view, no matter how popular or unpopular that point of view may be. Post-9.11, it would seem that freedom isn't quite what it used to be, eh?

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A man who heckled President Bush at a political rally was fired from his job at an advertising and design company for offending a client who provided tickets to the event.

The fired graphic designer said Saturday he won't try to get his job back.

"I'm mad less about losing the job -- I'm more mad about the reasons," said Glen Hiller, 35, of Berkeley Springs. "All I did was show up and voice my opinion."

Hiller was ushered out of Hedgesville High School on Tuesday after shouting his disagreement with Bush's comments about the war in Iraq war and the search for weapons of mass destruction. The crowd had easily drowned out Hiller with its chant: "Four more years."

"He surrounds himself with people who support him," Hiller said of Bush. "Your opinion ... is viewed as right or wrong."

When he showed up for work at Octavo Designs of Frederick, Md., the following morning, he said he was told he'd embarrassed and offended a client who provided tickets to the event -- and that he was fired.

Since when should the expression of one's political views be viewed as grounds for terminating an employee? Certainly, Hiller could perhaps have chosen a more appropriate forum to voice his displeasure, but isn't this what free speech is supposed to be about? Does an individual have the right to dissent, or is unquestioning loyalty to Our Sainted President now the new price of admission in post-9.11 Amerika?

What's next? Loyalty oaths? WE DESERVE BETTER.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on August 23, 2004 6:22 AM.

Speak softly and wield a big rod was the previous entry in this blog.

It's their world; I'm just coughing up the hairballs is the next entry in this blog.

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