Freedom of speech exercised at Constitution Day event
reporternews.com
By Charles G. Anderson Sr. Special to the Reporter-News
Posted September 16, 2011 at 9 p.m.

The Pony Express, blue whales, and pandas all got a words of support. So did the military and the duty to vote.

Those opinions, plus many more, came from about 25 speakers who took the opportunity to have their say Friday during a Constitution Day event at McMurry University.

Today is the actual Constitution Day, but Dr. Paul Fabrizio, a political science professor at McMurry, staged the event Friday on the steps of Jay-Rollins Library. Students and other participants were urged to speak up in support of their constitutional right to free speech.

McMurry President John Russell kicked off the event by urging everyone to voice an opinion in the open forum.

"We have a responsibility to make comments in a respectful and courteous manner," he said. "We need to exercise that right or we will lose it."

Spectators quickly took him at his word. McMurry student William Reilly, 21, urged bringing back the Pony Express to save the U. S. Postal Service.

"Think of the jobs created in training people to ride horses," Reilly said. "Think of the saddles that would be sold."

Eddie Gonzalez, 22, said young people are being left out when it comes to voting.

"Only about 20 percent of the ages 18-24 vote," he said. "The age 60 and over vote."

Gonzalez said college students don't seem to care enough to vote.

"The over-60 group will vote to cut money for students, because students don't care," he said.

Fred Jones, 61, an employee of Eagle Airlines, handed out copies of the Constitution.

"We need to audit the Federal Reserve," he said.

Jones, who frequently runs for political office on the Libertarian ticket, said many in government are making decisions on issues that were not given to them in the Constitution.

After everyone had spoken once, several, including Jones, chose to speak a second time.

"We have from 20 to 40 million immigrants in this nation and Texas spends six to 8 billion a year on them." Jones said, adding that he believes Congress should put a stop to illegal immigration.

"I invite anyone to come, but honor the constitution and our laws," he said.

McKayla Ferguson, 11, said NASA should be brought back.

"It is in your hands to do that," she said.

"We need to save the blue whales and the pandas," Kali Riley, 10, said.

Samantha Bonsock, 28, McMurry student and a member of the Air National Guard, urged everyone to respect the military.

"I have been deployed to Afghanistan twice," she said. "My sister is over there somewhere now."

"Give our military men and women a handshake when you see them," added Erik Benson, 27, McMurry student and former member of the Air Force and the Navy." If it was not for the military, we would lose our freedom."

"I don't think it is fair in Texas to not permit same-sex marriages," said Quinten Smith, 20, McMurry student. "My dad is African American and my mother is Caucasian." He said 50 years ago they would not have been permitted to marry.

Drew Larkin, 21, McMurry student said he believes freedom of speech is what makes this country great.

"That is why we have survived," he said.

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