It's always comforting when something reaffirms your political allegiance. Recently, I stumbled across an "organization" website that did just that. This site, called Mad Hatters Independent Media Center is actually based in Danbury, CT. Wow, I thought, maybe this is actually a respectable news site, right here in Connecticut! Reading the title, I find that the motto of the site is, "Working to create a citizens medium for the open expression of perception and truth". Ok, a little self righteous for my taste, but they may have some interesting viewpoints. Reading on, I find that this organization is taking donations to pay the bail bonds and legal fees of the so-called "protesters" who were arrested in Hartford on October 11th. They call this effort the "Free Speech Legal Defense Fund". Wouldn't "Cause-Seeking Bored College Student Defense Fund" be more accurate? I realize that some people need a political cause to justify their life on earth, but should anyone really pay the bail bonds of these would be revolutionaries? In case you don't remember, these kids thought it would be cool to protest president Bush's actions in Afghanistan. They were subsequently arrested and charged with inciting a riot, disorderly conduct, interfering with a police officer, and breach of peace. The total bill for the fiasco is about $30,000. Now, I'm all for freedom of speech. But give me a break. Anyone who sends money to this "fund" would not be supporting any form of intellectual response to the actions of president Bush. Knee-jerk reactions should not be supported, on either side. Liberal Americans do have some good ideas and views, and unlike many Republicans, I would like to hear them. When these viewpoints are delivered in a package of protest or self righteous defensive language, the message does not get through, trust me. Any political statement presented in this way does not bring us together to actually come up with a solution, it only widens the gap of resentment between the right and left. If anyone can think of one good reason to pay the legal fees of these students, please, let me know. The only reason I can think of is that their lawyers are probably Republicans...