Editorials

By GENE POLICINSKI
First Amendment Center
As things now stand, Americans will not be able to see TV coverage of upcoming 9/11-related trials from Guantanamo Bay.

The situation is regrettable — but easily remedied.

A military judge this week said he had no authority to override an earlier decision by the Department of Defense that denied requests by the defense attorneys for the accused and by and news-related groups to televise the trials.

By KEN PAULSON
President, First Amendment Center
One measure of our freedom is how foolish we’re allowed to be in exercising our rights.

Case in point: Joseph W. Resovsky of Columbia Station, Ohio, decided to provoke some people with a grossly insensitive post on his Facebook page referring to the shooting of schoolchildren in Newtown, Conn.: “I’m so happy someone shot up all those little (expletives). Viva la school shootings!!!!”

Jan. 1 looms.
Many of us are stuffed full from Christmas treats and are already planning how to shed some extra weight.
We’re also promising ourselves we’ll finally clean out the basement, get more organized, get out of debt and paint that hall — the one with six doorway frames that will all need special attention.
In other words, we have started on our New Year’s resolutions.
Just talking about New Year’s resolutions makes some of us weary.

By GENE POLICINSKI
First Amendment Center
Most Americans know that they can speak their mind in the public square, thanks to the First Amendment.

But what about shopping malls, arguably the modern equivalent of a village green?

Well, outside of California and New Jersey, the First Amendment’s strong protection for free expression — particularly speech involving public issues — likely won’t apply in your local mall if it’s privately owned.