LETTERS: Protestors have freedom of speech

To the Editor: Secondly, we as a nation have a right to free speech ! How dare Chinese President Jiang even suggest the people of America not protest his arrival. If he actually believed that he could come to my country, my city and ring my Liberty Bell while simultaneously taking away my First Amendment right to protest the crimes against humanity that the Chinese government is responsible for, then he should have studied American history closer than he did. Thirdly, as a young black male from the inner city, I share Randolph's outrage about the inequalities of this country. But to say, "Free Tibet? Hell no, free Compton," is an unenlightened stance. If we, as humans, do not stand together, we shall surely fall together. As I said earlier, the organizers of last week's protest at 33rd and Spruce, fight for human rights -- not just China's rights, Tibets rights, or Mumia's rights -- human rights. Isn't placing one above the other a sort of "Jim Crow" mentality unto itself ? Yes, the United States has its problems, but does that mean we should ignore problems other places? Should we not protest crimes against the Chinese people because we're not Chinese? If that were the all prevailing mentality, a lot of people who attend Penn now (meaning blacks, women and Jews) would not have had that opportunity. Lastly, beware of jingoism and armchair quarterbacking, and don't let your mouth write a check that your actions can't cash. Didn't you learn that in accounting? Girard Rudasill ISC Staff