Posted on 12/15/2004 7:24:46 AM PST by Rakkasan1
A retiree who got fed up when a cell-phone user refused to clean up his language in a restaurant in July got three months' probation Tuesday. Unlike many defendants who walk into Ramsey County District Judge Paulette Flynn's courtroom to plead guilty to a crime, 79-year-old Bill W. Stevenson got thumbs-up signs from attorneys and others in the court who identified with his motives, if not his actions. "I felt a lot of sympathy, and they were giving me the thumbs-up when I walked out of the courtroom," Stevenson said after pleading guilty to a single count of disorderly conduct. "I think I could've won my case by going to trial, with a sympathetic jury. I've had over 30 calls and letters and e-mails, and I've not had one negative call. They're all on my side." The bagel bakery imbroglio happened July 15 when Stevenson and another retired 3M engineer, Sten Gerfast, 74, were sitting at a table at Bruegger's in the Sun Ray Shopping Center and going over a design Gerfast had invented. Jesse Russell Tabor, 40, of Minneapolis entered the bakery with his 13-year-old daughter. In an interview after the incident, Tabor said he was talking on his cell phone with a man whose home he was remodeling. Tabor said in the interview he didn't recall cursing while on the phone. Stevenson and Gerfast remember it differently. "He was using the F-word against this guy he was talking to," Stevenson said. "There was an argument on the phone. The third time he walked by our booth where Mr. Gerfast and I were trying to design something, Mr. Gerfast said to me, 'Should I do something about it?' I thought a moment and thought, 'What can you do in a case like this?'
(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...
Remember, read the entire article, no matter how much you like to skip the important stuff. And in your case, read slowly and repeat until comprehension is achieved.
We need to have a common view of what is moral, and what appropriate punishment or preventive measures are. Admittedly, we have far less of that than we used to.
But if we give up all rights to "vigilante" justice, we
make this cultural fragmentation -- this near-anarchy --
even worse than it is. In other words, by not seriously challenging bad behavior, we contribute to the problem of confusion and disagreement about moral standards.
Something on the order of, "Gee, sorry to bother you. Excuse me. Gee sorry, can I ask you a question? It is really important. You see, my friend and I are sitting over hear and we could not help but overhearing the problem you are having. Now I know it is none of my business and you seem like a real nice guy, but I was wonder if you would not mind, like, gee I don't want you to think I being confrontational or anything, but well, you were kindof like saying the F word really loud and I know you are upset and all which is why I figured you are a nice guy and maybe did not realize. I know I do the same sometimes and well I'd appreciate it is someone let me know. So really, I'm just concerned for any of the children....
You'd better consider the source. You get someone using that type of language, *loudly* in public, inside a restaurant yet, and you come off with that sugarcoated, pollyanna pretty please request, they'll probably ring your bell just for good measure.
WARNING: Patriot, be on the lookout for FReepers with multiple screen names. Look at some of the postings and then tell me if some of them, even though under different names, don't sound as though they're from the same sissy.
"The f word never killed anyone"
Use it to the wrong person at the wrong time and it might get you killed - well, at least slapped silly. :-)
Bottom line is that free speech has limitations. A genteel person would recognize this.
Personally, I have been called down in public for using "salty" language in front of small children, and I deserved it.
I'm on the side of the old dude.
Actually I have a cutlass and a nightstick. No guns allowed in NY.
"While his motives may have been good, I would be pissed as hell if some old guy tried this on me!"
That may be so. However, if I witnessed such an event and the person who had their phone snatched got "pissed" and raised a hand against the elderly person, they would have to then contend with me.
I read many years ago that there were 3 things that happened to this country back then that changed this country. President Kennedy's assassination was one. What were the other 2?
"Gee, sorry to bother you. Excuse me. Gee sorry, can I ask you a question? It is really important. You see, my friend and I are sitting over hear and we could not help but overhearing the prob..." (sound of nose crunching under fist pounding)
Baloney! What has happened to this country when unfit language is excused or even acceptable by so many people who should know better?
Me, too.
No, but using that word, and a few others, has resulted in the deaths of many, good and the bad.
The media, at the acquiescence of government leaders from Tom Brokaw's 'Greatest Generation' (i.e. Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon), was allowed to undermine our military efforts in Vietnam. Combined with collusion from academia, along with many from Hollywood still stinging from their outing during the anti-American activities trials of the 1950s and you have the Left's formula for destroying this once great nation.
So, you have a right not to be subjected to speech you don't like?
I'll remember to remind you of this after "homophobic" speech gets banned and church sermons become "offensive."
For crying out loud. You don't know what your talking about. Drunks have no common sense or moral views. I know of cases where people have been stabbed to death in a bar for looking at someone. Other cases where a drunk was tossed out, came back with a freaking rifle and put holes in three totally innocent people.
Good Lord!
Your best bet is to ignore these individuals and avoid all communication with them. Regards, O.C.
You should also be aware that some Freepers do not have the courage to debate directly with people that they disagree with. Instead, they skulk in the shadows and make baseless insinuations then scurry away when confronted, much like the common cockroach or Democrat.
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