Ellington

We only lost three distribution spots due to our last issue, which offered dissenting views to the Iraqi War. We knew when we switched last issue's cover story at the last minute from the state of the crime debate in Jackson (which is now this issue's cover story) to the war, which was in its opening moments as we went to press, that we were courting controversy. But we also knew that we would not be true to our mission and our promise to our readers to be thought-provoking if we failed to take a more critical look at the build-up to the war as it was developing into the most important issue that most of us would be facing over these weeks—both intellectually and emotionally. We simply do not know how not to analyze the news, question dogma and exercise our right to free expression at every turn.

I'm proud to report that our readers seemed to see our coverage in the community-forum spirit in which it was intended, even those who didn't agree with much of our war perspective. Over the last two weeks, some people have whispered softly and others have yelled it out: "Thank you." A good number of them applauded our "courage," as they called it.

Courage? To speak up? To write what's on our minds? To hold our government accountable? Baby, that's not courageous—that's the American way. Right now, I may have a small, tasteful peace sign propped inside my front window, but that doesn't make me any less an American or a Mississipian or a Jacksonian. I believe in nothing more than "the pursuit of life, liberty and justice for all"—with a special emphasis on "for all." Not "for all corporations," but for you and me, brothers and sisters. I passionately prescribe to and defend the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution from all its enemies. Speech, expression, assembly, freedom to worship (or not): Those are my rights, and they are your rights.

I believe it when they tell us—as I heard one Marine officer say so eloquently last week on the news—that our soldiers fight to preserve what the American flag stands for, and may even be buried under it even as people back home burn it in protest. That's the circle of our inter-connecting American lives. Without one leg, that footstool will topple over. We can't suddenly cherry-pick one piece of that freedom whenever it's convenient for one ideology or another.

The genius of American freedom is that it is not designed to only benefit some folks and some points of view. It's for all of us. What that means—brace yourself for the tough part here—is that if we truly believe in freedom and in other people's rights to have it, too, we have to test our resolve regularly. Here's a quick way: Look around you. Find the person you disagree with the most. The one who infuriates you just by opening her mouth and stating her views. Maybe even the one who belittles your race, or your religion, or your president, or your war. Then look at her, and everyone else around you, take a gulp, and say, "I support your right to express your opinion. That's what America is all about. That's what our soldiers die to protect."

Being a true American can be hard, whatever your ideology. It was damned difficult for Jews when Nazis marched in Skokie, Ill. It was heartbreaking for me to watch Klan members, however ludicrous these days, marching through the streets of my hometown recently, stoking old fires and fears. But I defend their right to do it (just as I defend someone else's right to show up and shout them down). If I didn't, I wouldn't mean all this "rights" stuff I toss around. It's not about me, or about you, or him or her. It's about pluralism, the marketplace of ideas, expression, freedom. There is nothing more un-American than telling another American he can't express his views.

This, of course, has been mightily tested of late. From the yo-yos who think it's cool to "Dixie Chick" a musician for their views to second lady Lynne Cheney's efforts to squelch discussion (not necessarily even dissent) in public universities to John Ashcroft's Total Information Awareness campaign—straight out of "1984"—freedom is a little shaky in the country right now. September 11 rocked our resolve and made us paranoid; as a result, too many of us are willing to give up freedoms in the name of security. We convince ourselves that the spying and the squelching will only occur to the bad guys, the evil ones. That's what a lot of folks thought during the McCarthy era, too.

I've always loved Janis Joplin's line: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." But truth be known it always bugged me a bit. If you have freedom, you have so much to lose if you're not careful and vigilant. It's a muscle that has to be exercised, not only with your own expression but by supporting speech you don't like. Once freedom is gone, it's hard to get it back, as many blacklisted folks from the Communist witch-hunt days can tell you.

There are witch hunts in this country right now, and we must watch for them and root them out. Whether you're the most flaming liberal or the most stiff conservative or, hell, the most stiff liberal or the most flaming conservative, please look out for our freedoms. Odd bedfellows are starting to cozy up around the country in response to efforts to stamp out free expression and questions by perfectly loyal and patriotic Americans.

Even if you hate everything I write—or you refuse to distribute this magazine—please join me to stand up for our individual freedoms. The most ridiculous thing you can say, or let pass, is the nasty retort to expression that pops up way too often: "If you hate it so much, why don't you leave?" Because it's my country, my home, and I have every right to try and improve it.

Questioning and probing and dissenting is not about hating America; it is at the very core of what the United States stands for. Even in these dark hours and with my itty-bitty peace sign in my front window, I am proud to be an American for what that allows me to say and write. I'm not going anywhere.

I'm in this for the good fight, or the "worthy scrap," as a good friend and a fine American likes to call it. Please join us, whatever your viewpoint.
Donna Ladd is the editor-in-chief of the Jackson Free Press.