Dear all -
I am not in the habit of forwarding messages; I rarely do it. But the story below is nearly unbelievable, and if I had received it from any source other than Kathy Kemp, via her mother Dorothy Fox, I would not have believed it to be a true account.
We lived across the street from Dorothy and Bill Fox in Kutztown for twenty years; we knew Kathy and her parents well. Anna went to school with both the students mentioned in the story. I find this account to be chilling in the extreme. Forward on to anyone you choose.
Janet
Dear Friends,
As you may or may not know, President Bush visited Kutztown, Pennsylvania on
Friday, July 9, 2004 for a "Town Hall Meeting." Tickets were only available through the Berks, Montgomery and Chester County Republican Committees, although a few were available through Kutztown University, where the president spoke. Requesting a ticket including submitting your name, address and social security number.
I did not request a ticket, but rather chose to hold a Kerry/Edwards sign during the morning of the visit. Protesters were kept well away from the area of the "Town Hall Meeting" and police and secret service agents made it very clear that you could be arrested for such things as stepping off the pavement or holding your sign above your head. Some protesters had their
vehicles broken into by the secret service because of "suspicions." One woman was removed from the "Town Hall Meeting" because she had on a John Kerry t-shirt. The events of the day provided an interesting lesson in civics, to say the least.
To follow is an article that I wrote describing my feelings about some of the things that happened at President Bush's "Town Hall Meeting." Please feel free to forward this to your friends who will be voting in November.
Kathy Kemp
For Josh--
In the months approaching November 2, 2004, Americans are preparing to vote in the upcoming presidential election. We will listen to the candidateıs speeches, research their positions on the issues and make a decision on who we will support. In a dramatically divided nation, each and every vote will be a statement which speaks of the heart and mind of its people.
As I grew up in the 1960s and 70s, my parents instilled in me a civic pride and reminded me of my duty to participate in both the local and national processes which would allow each personıs voice to be heard. In 1977, when I turned 18, I registered to vote and began a life-long commitment to having a personal stake in elections. As a registered Democrat, I have most often voted for the candidate of my party. But there have also been times when I researched, and voted for, candidates from the Republican and Independent parties. The ability to make this kind of choice illuminates the greatness of the United States of America.
As the 2004 presidential election began, there was no doubt in my mind that I would be voting for whichever candidate the Democratic Party put on the ticket. With a deep sense that the basic tenets of our country have been dismissed by the present administration, I am convinced that our nation needs new leadership. When John Kerry emerged as the leading candidate of
the Democratic party I became an active supporter. I believe that a government headed by John Kerry and John Edwards will work diligently to move our country in a direction that will value each citizenıs role in the great machine we call America.
But on November 2, 2004, when I close the curtain of the voting booth, I will be casting my vote for someone else. I will be voting for Joshua Neyhart. His name will not be on the ballot and most likely, you have never heard of him. Josh is a 16 year old from Kutztown, Pennsylvania. He, with youth everywhere in our nation, is the future of our country. Years from now, Josh and his
compatriots will participate in our economy and elections, determining the fabric of America. Those of us who are older will depend on people like Josh to make wise decisions.
And so Josh begins the process of being a responsible citizen of our nati on. With news that President George W. Bush would be speaking at Kutztown University on Friday, July 9th, Josh volunteered to help set up the facilities in the gymnasium at KU hoping to receive coveted tickets to hear the president speak on his campaign tour. He walked the short distance from his home across the street from KU to the gym and helped set up equipment on Thursday evening.
On Friday morning, Josh was rewarded for his commitment to the process of American politics with two tickets to hear President Bush speak.
Josh and his cousin, Casey OıNeil, were both ecstatic to know that they would have the opportunity to hear the president of the United States speak. They changed into dress clothing, he in a shirt and tie and she in a tasteful skirt and top, and took their place in the line of other ticket holders waiting to go through security checks. Josh and Casey were seated in a reserved section near the stage. This would perhaps be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them, hearing the president speak on issues such as the economy, Iraq and his commitment to education through the No Child Left Behind mandate.
But Josh and Casey never heard President Bushıs speech. Soon after being seated, with no intent to disrupt the event, they were approached by a federal agent and asked for their names and addresses. Upon cooperating with the agent, Josh and Casey were told that they would have to leave the building because Joshıs mother had allowed political protesters to gather on
her property. Josh and Casey were escorted from the building, denied their opportunity to hear President Bush speak.
Each of us, as responsible adults, should carefully consider the lesson which President Bush taught young Josh and Casey on Friday morning. The President of the United States made perfectly clear to these two students that if you disagree with him you will be removed from the political process. In Bushıs classroom there is obviously no room for questions or differing opinions. Students with varied voices will be silenced. In the Bush school there will be only one Headmaster and his lesson plan will be followed without exception.
In a nation built on the premise of a government of the people, by the people and for the people, is this truly the lesson we want our young people to learn? If President Bush considers this type of treatment fair to the young citizens of the nation, how should we expect him to treat the
millions of disenfranchised adults throughout our country who are clamoring for jobs that pay a living wage, affordable health care and a clean environment that will sustain future generations of Americans?
Josh and Casey learned a hard lesson on Friday morning: President Bush plays hardball politics even with young people who are not yet old enough to vote.
Their lesson is complete, but the test is yet to come. Will we, the registered voters, allow someone like George W. Bush to shape the future of our children?
I want you to know, Josh, that I will not fail you. On November 2nd, when I press the button in the booth for the Kerry/Edwards ticket, in reality I will be casting my vote for you and your future.
Kathy Kemp
Posted by Hannah at August 22, 2004 02:41 PM