TERRE HAUTE —
God bless the U.S.A.
There are too few countries in the world where citizens can express themselves in the manner in which Terre Haute resident Ed Willis has the past couple of months. From his front yard on South 19th Street, he leaves no doubt about his disdain for President Barack Obama.
Willis has erected a display featuring an image of a smiling Obama being crucified. Below the cross is a coffin, also with Obama’s image on it, bearing the words “Obama’s ballot box, send his socialism to the grave.”
Freedom of speech, one of the five rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, is a wonderful thing. Indeed, railing against political figures and philosophies seems to be a national pastime, especially in a presidential election year. While Willis’ expression against the president is certainly offensive to some, he is well within his rights.
That’s not to say he’s escaped close scrutiny. Willis received a visit from the Secret Service, whose job it is to ensure the safety of the president, his family, and of other high elected officials. The agents determined there was nothing overtly threatening in the display and let it go at that. But the encounter has brought even more attention to the crass nature of Willis’ political yard ornaments.
For the record, Willis, a truck driver, was motivated by what he called an “executive order” from the president that he says adversely affects truckers’ work schedules.
Fair enough. Messing with a guy’s livelihood is sure to bring wrath your way, even though reasonable people can probably disagree on the issue without resorting to coffins and crucifixes.
But there’s an amusing twist to this tale. According to a trucking association fighting the regulation, Willis’ claim about Obama’s “executive order” is, ahem, false. As explained by our Arthur Foulkes in a story in Sunday’s Tribune-Star, the more strict trucking regulation that sent Willis to the wood pile to create his masterpiece was actually a product of the U.S. Department of Transportation, not a presidential executive order. Oops.
Facts are pesky things, and they can sometimes get in the way of a good rant. When it comes to political speech, the First Amendment gives an individual wide latitude. Accuracy is not required.
None of this may change Willis’ approach. The regulation that riles him does exist, although it’s not yet in effect. It did come from the president’s administration, if not directly from the president.
Willis, we suspect, isn’t the first to exercise his right to be wrong, at least in some aspects of his complaint. And he certainly won’t be the last. The First Amendment probably guarantees it.
God bless the U.S.A.
Editorials
EDITORIAL: The right to be wrong
While freedom of speech is guaranteed, accuracy isn’t
- Editorials
-
-
The celebration season
Spring has been a bit elusive at times in 2013, which is its nature.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: MVC tourney an event worth having
It’s been a long time since the Missouri Valley Conference chose Indiana State University to host its post-season baseball tournament, but Terre Haute had never been more prepared for an event such as this.
-
EDITORIAL: Cleaning up voter rolls
It’s not a lot of money in the big scheme of things, but the $2 million designated in the recent session of the General Assembly will begin the messy but necessary process of cleaning up Indiana’s voter registration rolls.
-
EDITORIAL: Waging the ‘readiness’ campaign
Almost every Hoosier who starts college intends to finish. Unfortunately, those who arrive on campus unprepared in key academic areas are far less likely to fulfill that aspiration.
-
EDITORIAL: Insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: Dashing finish for the Sycamores
It’s always thrilling to see Indiana State University’s athletic teams do well in high-level competition, and two specific teams rose to impressive heights last weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships.
-
EDITORIAL: Better monitoring needed to prevent local environmental messes
The nasty, hazardous messes lurking in the community raise a bottom-line, red-flag question. Could these environmental problems have been monitored and, thus, prevented?
-
EDITORIAL: Memo to U.S.A.: You can ‘SPPRAK’ just as we do in Vigo County
Our kids, truly, are ‘Making a Difference’
-
Some words in praise of boring government — Indiana’s
A conservative Republican governor has super majorities in both branches of the legislature. One might suspect such one-party government leads to major changes in public policy. This did not happen in 2013 in Indiana.
-
EDITORIAL: Doc’s prescient prescription
Viewed through a 2013 prism, Doc Bowen’s response to the AIDS epidemic looks merely prudent, routine.
-
EDITORIAL: Education remains worth the cost
Within the next few weeks, each of the local colleges will have conducted graduation ceremonies. A few days later, a different Class of 2013 will don caps and gowns for commencement — the seniors at five Vigo County high schools. It is still a smart, worthy aspiration for those high school grads to replicate the achievement of those college students by earning a higher-education degree.
-
EDITORIAL: Good news for downtown
For decades, it seems, downtown Terre Haute has been in the throes of change
-
EDITORIAL: Overall, state budget step in the right direction
For average Hoosiers uninterested in political point-scoring, the budget crafted by the Indiana Legislature inspires only muted, if any, fanfare.
-
EDITORIAL: The lessons of organ donation
The range of emotion surrounding life-saving transplantation of a vital organ is extreme. It is the ultimate “good news-bad news” scenario.
-
READERS’ FORUM: April 26, 2013
• Pence’s tax cuts benefit wealthiest
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
This does not qualify as a surprise in any way. But the Wabash Valley’s response to widespread flooding of recent days has been nothing short of impressive, even inspirational.
-
EDITORIAL: Still waiting for the jobs reward
The forces in control of Indiana government for most of the past decade need to show some results to Hoosiers in one primary category.
Good-paying jobs. -
MARK BENNETT: Littered with irony: Why do people callously discard their trash, and who are they?
Though they aren’t acknowledged by the U.S. Census Bureau, there are basically two demographic groups of people … Those who would dump their old toilet on the banks of the Wabash River or a rural roadside. And those who wouldn’t.
-
EDITORIAL: Doing the dirty work to clean up tossed trash
A first-of-its-kind, coast-to-coast project to remove litter from U.S. roadsides brought the Pick Up America crew through the Wabash Valley two years ago.
-
EDITORIAL: Keep school security a local issue
The decision to provide armed security inside a schoolhouse should be made locally.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news
Indiana’s parks need your help.
-
EDITORIAL: The return of terror
Emotions today remain strong and raw in wake of Monday’s terror bombings near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
-
EDITORIAL: A solution to distracted driving … stop it … now
You’ve got to stop. You know you do it. It’s a miracle you haven’t caused a tragedy already.
-
EDITORIAL: ‘Women of Influence’: 2013 selectees have given much to their communities
For the second year, United Way of the Wabash Valley has teamed up with local sponsors to select and honor a group of women who have made outstanding contributions to their communities, professions and families.
-
EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: A new honor for our veterans
A commendation goes out today to state Rep. Clyde Kersey, a Terre Haute Democrat who led the charge this week in the Indiana House of Representatives to pay tribute to the nation’s Purple Heart recipients.
-
EDITORIAL: Shifting view on marriage
One could argue, as many have, that Sen. Joe Donnelly did the right thing last week when he dropped his support of government-sanctioned opposition to same-sex marriage. It wasn’t a radical move, considering most Democrats have now made the switch.
-
MAX JONES: The American Newspaper: Changing? Yes. Dying? No way!
It happened again this past January when all those “looking at the year ahead” stories started popping up on Internet “news” websites and broadcast “news” programs. Under a provocative headline reading something like “Five industries/businesses doomed to tank in the coming year,” there it was, a prediction based on an unsubstantiated “expert” analysis that the newspaper industry will continue in 2013 to suffer its slide into oblivion.
-
EDITORIAL: A chance to change our bad cultural habits
The sight of diligent, eager young people dragging trash out of the Wabash River wetlands is both inspiring and sad.
-
EDITORIAL: Maintaining high standards
Standards
It’s the raging buzzword in education circles these days. Everyone insists that higher standards must be met. Anything less is, doggone it, unacceptable. -
Noteworthy in the news
- More Editorials Headlines
-
The celebration season
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Officials: Truck Hit Bridge Before Collapse
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Jersey Shore Open for Business
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Johnson: Don't Blame Islam or UK Policy
Today in History May 24
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
