Newseum: Extra, extra, see all about it!
There was a block party on Pennsylvania Avenue this morning--complete with confetti cannons, a very smart bald eagle, several acrobatic roller-skating newsies, and a bevy of young women with televisions affixed to their brassieres--all in celebration of the long-awaited opening of the Newseum.
One moment of irony stuck out amid the fanfare, when a man handed several schoolchildren signs expressing opposition to the Iraq war. The kids displayed them proudly--that is, until a woman who seemed to be their chaperone brusquely confiscated the anti-war signage.
"You can't give signs like this to kids," she growled, and tossed the posters aside.
The kids looked disappointed. I comforted them, and told them that she had no right to take the signs away. She scowled at me. The scene was brought into vivid relief by the 50-ton marble tablet directly behind the children and their ward, on which is engraved none other than the First Amendment.
For more pictures of the Newseum's opening, along with some words from Gene Policinski (vice president of the First Amendment Center), check out the slideshow below.
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5:58 pm
when they said opening day was free what they meant was, it's free until they run out of free passes.
and i ran into a guy in a suit who tried to scalp 2 tickets for $10 each to a group of 3 of us.
no, we didnt go. made no sense to wait in a long line for crowded exhibits and pay $20.
2:04 pm
I also found it amusing that children were carry anti-war signs. They didn't look like they knew whether they should be holding them or not. The block party was pretty cool. The museum could possibly be a little overwhelming, but it was well worth its free admission!
10:55 pm
The ultimate in irony. The chaperone was probably a fringe member of the Bush cabinet...
12:36 pm
Dear Mr. Reed & Readers,
Your article has come to my attention through a co-worker of mine and I feel the need to address certain statements you have made, as the very same "brusque chaperone" who "scowled" at you on that very day, over this very issue. For one, sir, I find it alarming that you think it is appropriate to allow ten year old children to rally for or against anything. Does the anti-war movement need to recruit individuals who truly have no political opinion but what others tell them? For two, as it is your constitutional right to give them the signs, it is mine to take them away. For three, the Newseum should be about educating the next generation, not indoctrinating them with yellow journalism and sensationlism. Let these children learn and grow into mature, productive citizens before they are brainwashed please. As for reader comments, my own personal political leanings are irrelevant, either way, I would not need a child to state them.