7-5-89 . . . Oliver North, the Marine colonel who engineered the arms-for-hostages deal in the [Ronald] Reagan administration, has been given a suspended sentence of three years in prison, two years of probation, a $150,000 fine, and 1200 hours of community service. The judge, Gerhard Gesell, also prohibited him from holding public office, though I don’t see how a judge can do that. Based on the early reaction to North’s sentence, conservatives are pleased. They insist that North is not only not guilty of the crimes of which he has been convicted, but that he is a national hero. Liberals, on the other hand, are either upset that he didn’t get any prison time or satisfied that he will not become a martyr. You see, had North been hauled off to prison, conservatives would have wailed that he was being treated like a “common criminal”. That would have enraged many Americans and given the conservatives a campaign issue for the 1990 congressional elections. As it is, North is free to continue on the lecture circuit. Although the [George Herbert Walker] Bush administration had no immediate comment on the North sentencing, it is believed that Bush is happy. Had North been sentenced to prison, there would have been a tremendous clamor for Bush to pardon him. Now, there is no need for a pardon. Just as Gerald Ford paid a political price for pardoning Richard Nixon, George Bush would have paid a political price—perhaps defeat in 1992—for pardoning Oliver North. The next stage of the Iran-Contra affair begins shortly, when North’s superior, Admiral John Poindexter, goes on trial. Poindexter may not get off so lightly, since he was more than an underling at the National Security Council.
Now that the [United States] Supreme Court has issued its ruling on the constitutionality of flag-desecration statutes, a few brave souls have decided to flaunt their First Amendment rights. Just when most Americans were celebrating the Fourth of July with parades, fireworks, pledges of allegiance to the flag, and twenty-one gun salutes, these rebels staged flag burnings in public places. One such event occurred in Austin, Texas. Naturally, the patriots in the vicinity couldn’t tolerate this display of political dissent, so they tangled with the protesters. It must have been quite a spectacle. Though I lack strong feelings either way on the flag issue (I think it’s silly, frankly), I believe that protest is healthy for a society. I’ve always been a social and political rebel. Always. That’s what attracted me to the Libertarian party in 1980 and that’s what sustains me as a socialist, radical feminist, vegetarian, and agnostic. Note carefully what I’m saying: Not only is flag burning tolerable; it’s desirable. It’s a good thing. Without rebels, without those who are willing to challenge society’s most cherished values, ideals, and symbols, we would stagnate. That doesn’t mean I want to be out on the streets protesting, for that isn’t my style. I prefer to protest in print, through argument. I’ll leave the confrontations to others, such as those who burned the flag in Austin.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 