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poet fined $5 for insulting mexican flag
Published May. 9, 2008
Judge says ruling small, but symbolic; author calls it a threat to free speech
The Associated Pressupdated 9:51 p.m. ET, Thurs., May. 8, 2008MEXICO CITY
- A Mexican poet has been fined about $5 for desecrating the country's flag by writing a poem about using it to wipe up urine and excrement.
Poet Sergio Witz Rodriguez published the poem in a magazine in the southern state of Campeche in 2000 and could have faced as many as four years in prison under a law protecting the flag and national insignia.
Judge Jose de Jesus Banales said in the ruling that the fine was small, but symbolic: "It will set an example so that people do not abuse freedom of expression, and to discourage anti-social behavior."
The poet on Thursday described the ruling as an attack on freedom of expression and vowed he would not pay.
"It would be like admitting that I am a criminal," Witz Rodriguez said.
Stung by centuries of colonialism and an 1848 defeat by the United States which cost the country half its territory, Mexico has fostered a fervent cult of respect for its flag.
'There are still limits'
A five-judge panel of Mexico's Supreme Court upheld the law protecting it in 2005, but Witz Rodriguez can still appeal the fine.
His poem rejects nationalist values, with the opening lines: "I / clean my urine / on the flag / of my country / That rag / that dogs lie on / and that represents nothing."
"Since the start of the trial, they have been determined to teach me a lesson, and send a message that in Mexico there are still limits, even on thought," Witz Rodriguez said.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24529845/
** What is the penalty (if any) for those that desecrate and abuse our flag? I think someone blogged about a college where the students were walking all over the flag a couple of weeks back. I have also seen pics of flags being burned or made into clothing garments or head gear. Isnt it a sign of disrespect to the country that the flag represents or is it free speech? You make that call?"
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GOLO member since September 1, 2007
May 9, 2008 6:40 p.m.
I was a prosecutor for 6 years. Suppose a murder is committed and I have the option of convicting a man of the elements of murder (which are simply the intentional killing of another person) and sending that person to prison for life.
Option two is proving the elements of a hate crime (which are the intentional killing of another person for a reason congress finds offensive) and, again, sending that person to prison to life.
Why would I chose the later?
More importantly, why is the victim of a hate crime entitled to different justice from the victim of any other crime? If I hit someone because they like the Packers is it more of a crime than hitting someone because they like Showtunes?
GOLO member since July 17, 2007
May 9, 2008 4:38 p.m.
GOLO member since January 29, 2008
May 9, 2008 4:27 p.m.
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
May 9, 2008 4:02 p.m.
GOLO member since July 17, 2007
May 9, 2008 3:59 p.m.
GOLO member since October 24, 2007
May 9, 2008 3:50 p.m.
Head for church, y'all, it's a sign of the Apocolypse!"
:-D We probably agree on more concepts than most people would assume.
GOLO member since September 6, 2007
May 9, 2008 3:49 p.m.
GOLO member since April 10, 2008
May 9, 2008 3:45 p.m.
Head for church, y'all, it's a sign of the Apocolypse!
GOLO member since July 17, 2007
May 9, 2008 3:44 p.m.
"A crime is equally reprehensible to justice regardless of the factors motivating it. Hate crime laws propose to criminalize thought or ideas, and that is a bad thing."
I totally agree.
GOLO member since April 10, 2008
May 9, 2008 3:44 p.m.
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