Well I don't editorialize often on my blog, but I am making an exception this general rule. I sent this letter to my local paper today. Wonder if they'll publish it? We'll see. (Just in case you haven't seen the vid in question, it's here on YouTube.)

To the Editors:

By now, most of your readers have seen some version of the
“Taser video”, wherein a college student at the
University of Florida was arrested and tasered by
police (one of the videos shows the officer in charge
telling him later that he would be charged with
inciting riot).

Did the kid say threatening things to Kerry or anyone
else, or do anything that really warranted the
officers’ behavior?

What I saw was not the apprehension of a criminal
suspect but an “official assault” on a citizen who
asked a politician some difficult questions-- just the
sort of thing we criticize when we see it happen in
other countries.

The American Dream has many forms.  Perhaps the most
important one is to live in a country where one can
ask elected officials tough questions without being
assaulted by police, arrested and taken away.  This
American Dream is dead when the people sit back and
allow it to happen, or even worse, support it.  Alas
it looks like that is exactly what most Americans are
doing.

Sincerely,
...

-------

Update: Wow, that was quick.  They called me to confirm it.  It should
be out some time this week.