From: utzoo!utcsrgv!pfps
Newsgroups: net.college
Title: Re: J. Kirkpatrick at U.C. Berkeley - (nf)
Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.1077
Posted: Sun Feb 20 15:33:35 1983
Received: Sun Feb 20 15:45:07 1983
References: ucbcad.612

I just read Michael Turner's origional article (after getting a lot of
follow-ups first) and I have a couple of points I would like to make.

First, about forums:  It seems to me that it is ridiculously easy to get 
news coverage for almost anything these days.  I have seen protests that
had only 15-20 people involved get national (Canadian) news coverage.  I
think that allegations that the U.S. helps other states violate human rights
would pick up similar coverage (as they have in the past).  Also, 
whenever I see news coverage of a speech such as Ambassador Kirkpatrick's
any protests related to it are also covered (especially such things a vigil
outside the place of the speech).

Second, about the futility of heckling:  I tend to give all possible benefit 
of doubt to people who have tried to present their views and were prevented 
from doing so.  Ambassador Krikpatrick may have had a totally useless speach 
prepared but since she was prevented from delivering it effectively I cannot
rule out the fact that she was ready to present a brilliant justification of 
U.S. foreign policy.  (The only reason to doubt this is that she must have
other methods of presenting her views, ones not interruptable by hecklers.)

So, as far as I am concerned, the hecklers did their viewpoint considerable
harm.  (Aside from showing everyone that they are total boors.)