In various internet-type fake conversations and some real world conversations and on television shows and cable news infotainment, there’s been hand wringing and bunched undies over the firing of Don Imus. As I have said, I don’t give a flying fuck about some wrinkled nastiness, who’s been talking shit for years for major pay.

Free speech is a sacred belief system for me. But, free or no, consequences there shall always be if you say something that gets folks’ attention. If you live by saying what ever the fuck you want, you make a lot of cake off of it and then the market says, “Um, yeah, you can shut up now,” the free-speech dialogue is working.

From Wired.com I found out about something that does raise my free-speech willies.

Mike Daisey, actor, monologist, performer guy, was doing a piece at the American Repertory Theater in my old Cambridge stomping grounds. Cambridge, liberal bastion known as the People’s Republic. ART, pinko experimental theater, where you are likely to find the avant garde, the modern and the controversial theater in the Boston area.

So, at that ART, in that city of Cambridge, a group of 87 folks, reported to be largely highschoolers and part of a Christian choir, all got up and walked out presumably for taking offense at the language or something. On the way, one of the dipshits poured his bottled water on the auteur’s notes.

Here’s my main, overarching question: Why the fuck did they buy tickets?

I’m from the area. As a kid, I went on a few theatrical field trips, but never to the ART. Pretty much it was understood, that was grown up, legit, thinking man’s theater. Adult themes and maybe some spicy Mamet-type language, or Ibsen’s syphillitic drama. Maturity and appreciation of some higher shit was assumed, not for the faint of heart or closed minded.

Why would a Christian group, I’m assuming bussing themselves in from some suburb, not Cambridge Christians, which may not exist, go? Why spend the money, take the time to see someone who talks in the contemporary vernacular about stuff that may not be Sunday-picnic like?

My fear in the free-speech wars is now people can go out looking to be offended and looking to pick a fight.

I’m hip to voices speaking out for what they want. But, the way I look at this theater thing is, Mike Daisey was hosting a private party. They showed up at his house and raised a ruckus. He wasn’t political, he’s not controversial, he’s not an outspoken target acting a lightening rod for some cause worth evangelizing over. Nope, just an artist trying to share a bit of himself.