Panel reminds citizens of basic rights

The League of Women Voters hosted a Constitution Day panel to remind people of their basic rights.

By Eva Dou

Published Sept. 19, 2008

In celebration of the 221st anniversary of the ratification of the Constitution, the League of Women Voters hosted a Constitution Day panel discussion at the Columbia Public Library on Wednesday.

Much of the discussion focused on the indifference many citizens feel toward basic freedoms.

"The people who are here tonight don't need to be here," panelist Craig Van Matre said. "The people who need to be here are not here."

Van Matre, an attorney based in Columbia, said people in the middle of the political "bell-shaped curve," or people without polarizing political views or behaviors are often indifferent to government encroachment on Constitutional rights. He said that mindset is a mistake.

"The battle's on the fringes, always," he said. "But once you start losing the battles on the fringes, it's a lot easier to move in on those in the bell-shaped curve."

Just in time to bolster Van Matre's case, the First Amendment Center released its annual "State of the First Amendment" survey on Wednesday. The report showed many Americans cannot name the five First Amendment freedoms, but they would be willing to accept government limitations on some of them.

According to the survey, "speech" was the only freedom a majority of the surveyed adults could name from the First Amendment. Only 3 percent could name "petition." Less than a fifth named freedoms of religion, press or assembly.

Wednesday evening, about 60 local residents, many of who were members of the League, were in attendance.

Van Matre, Columbia Daily Tribune Managing Editor Jim Robertson and MU Constitutional Law professor Christina Wells spoke at the event.

The discussion was prefaced by a presentation of the Bill of Rights by local high school students, with audience members following along with complementary pocket-sized Constitutions. Each panelist was then asked to talk about his or her favorite amendment.

Robertson referenced a recent protest request by a neo-Nazi group in regard to free speech.

"Speech we agree with doesn't need protection," he said. "It's speech that we hate that needs protecting."

Van Matre said in the wake of 9/11, Americans are more willing to accept infringements on their rights and those of others. As examples, he mentioned the Patriot Act and the treatment of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay.

"The threat to the fundamental underpinnings to our system of government came after 9/11 when, in fear and panic, the will of the people seemed to be, 'Protect us, oh government. Take away some of our civil liberties so we can feel safe,'" he said.

Rock Bridge High School teacher Deborah Tucker said she was just beginning her unit about the Constitution with her 11th grad class when she saw the fliers about the Constitution Day event. She decided to come and also offered extra credit to any of her students who came.

"Professor Wells' presentation was very valuable in terms of what I could take back to the classroom," she said.

Tucker said her students tend to be interested in issues involving rights.

Rock Bridge senior Laura Matera agreed.