freedom and security

Universities all over the country are expressing condolences to Virginia Tech. At my daughter's school they are planning a vigil in their "designated free speech area." It got me wondering if speech can be both designated and free. My daughter and some friends have already made arrangements with student housing to be roommates next fall. She told me today that one of her future roommates lost a good friend (and former high school classmate) in the massacre.

On "The View" this morning, the co-hosts wished that a more extensive background check could have kept the VT killer from buying his guns. On previous episodes, Rosie O'Donnell has made it clear that she is vehemently opposed to that same sort of thing when it is known as the Patriot Act. Rich Hailey makes a good point that the profiling which might have stopped the murderer would have also ensnared lots of other lonely, insecure students.

People everywhere are invited to wear orange and maroon on Friday to show support for Virginia Tech.