Bethlehem Sands Casino protest invokes memories of King George III
Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson was the
target of a free speech protest at his Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, where
similarities to King George III were discussed. (Associated Press File photo / November 23, 2012)
In November of 1788, right around the time some confounded colonials were
celebrating what they called their 168th "Thanksgiving," King George III finally
went off the deep end.
Tormented by the ridiculous principles established by those troublemakers in the New World, he was observed foaming at the mouth as he talked without pause for hours, to nobody in particular, and tried to shake hands with a tree he thought was the King of Prussia.
Who could blame him? This was just a few years after the Treaty of Paris gave the Americans final victory in their quest for things like free speech and the right to (gasp) find fault with a king. And now they were happily celebrating a holiday they invented in 1621.
They were giving thanks for their blessings, and were continuing to disrespect their king. Sometimes they did it in public squares, which, by all that's holy, should still belong to George III.
"Free speech?" we almost can hear him yelling as he took out his sword to whack at another tree he thought was Thomas Paine. "You think these are the times that try men's souls? You think you can go around saying nasty things about your sovereign in public places? Take that, you devil!"
On Thanksgiving eve (2012), the name of King George III popped up once again on the pages of The Morning Call.
A new bunch of troublemakers assembled to redress some grievances at a public plaza known as SteelStacks. They did not care for "deed restrictions" that made it illegal to say anything that was not complimentary about a nearby gambling joint.
They also objected to a ban on any speech that favored labor unions, even though the public plaza is located at what was once the flagship plant of Bethlehem Steel, where much of the American labor movement was created. (I often say rotten things about labor unions, and especially union bosses, but I have not yet held that people should be prohibited from talking about them.)
The story said that Joe Welsh, a lawyer, referred to the American Revolution at the rally and talked about Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas billionaire gambling magnate who owns the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Welsh, it was reported, "reminded the crowd what happened after King George III trampled on the freedoms of the people in the 13 colonies."
At issue was a 2011 deed restriction Adelson's outfit demanded when it sold a few acres to the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, a government agency, so it could create a public area. The provision bans any speech critical of the casino.
Previous stories said Joseph Kelly, the city's director of community development, noted that people have been allowed to protest other things, such as abortion, and they have other public areas for demonstrations, such as the plaza near city hall.
The deed approved by the Redevelopment Authority last year, however, provides that labor unions may not organize in the SteelStacks public area, and it says any activity with a "theme" that casino operators find "offensive" is also banned.
"Mr. Adelson, this is our land," Welsh was quoted as saying at this week's rally.
Bethlehem Police Chief Jason Schiffer was at the rally but apparently did not crack down on the lawbreakers engaging in illegal free speech. He stipulated that his officers would not disperse the crowd. (George III must be spinning in his grave. His officers knew how to disperse a crowd of protesters, as they proved in the Boston Massacre.)
The story quoted a spokeswoman for the Sands empire as saying no one was available for comment. That's a shame, because I'm sure Adelson would be able to make a cogent case for why we should return to the system favored by George III.
Ordinarily, Adelson is not shy about public dialogue. In the most recent political crusades, he sunk tens of millions of dollars into Super PAC spending to help Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and others, although nearly every candidate he backed lost. His attack ads did have some success, however. He helped oust western Pennsylvania Congressman Mark Critz, who worked mainly on behalf of the rabble — working families, military veterans, seniors, etc. And among Adelson's previously favored politicians is U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican from the Lehigh Valley.
Adelson, who says that anyone who wants the rich to pay more taxes is a "socialist," began his noble gambling casino quest in 1988 by buying the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, and there have been a few bumps on his way to accumulating his $20 billion.
There has been a federal investigation into bribery involving the Sands Corp. and Chinese mobsters, and another problem was a lawsuit brought by Adelson's former CEO, Steve Jacobs, who accused him of promoting prostitution in his casinos.
Anyway, now we have Adelson in Bethlehem, and we'd better not get caught saying anything unflattering about him or his gambling joint on public land in that city.
I have an idea that King George III is looking down from wherever he is now — actually, it might be more likely that he's looking up — and saying how thankful he is for people like Adelson and the politicians who give him everything he wants.
"If there were more loyal Americans like him back in the 1770s, things would have turned out much better," George III is probably saying, "and my gilded statue in New York City would still be there."
paul.carpenter@mcall.com 610-820-6176
Paul Carpenter's commentary appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/carpenter/mc-pc-bethlehem-sands-casino-protest-invokes-memor-20121123,0,4220071.column
Footnote: KG Urban, the brownfield developer salivating to invade New Bedford, partnered with Sands to erect Sands Bethlehem. The financial partner behind KG Urban has not been disclosed. Is it Sheldon Adelson?
Read this:
Massachusetts: The Greatest Show on Earth!
Tormented by the ridiculous principles established by those troublemakers in the New World, he was observed foaming at the mouth as he talked without pause for hours, to nobody in particular, and tried to shake hands with a tree he thought was the King of Prussia.
Who could blame him? This was just a few years after the Treaty of Paris gave the Americans final victory in their quest for things like free speech and the right to (gasp) find fault with a king. And now they were happily celebrating a holiday they invented in 1621.
They were giving thanks for their blessings, and were continuing to disrespect their king. Sometimes they did it in public squares, which, by all that's holy, should still belong to George III.
"Free speech?" we almost can hear him yelling as he took out his sword to whack at another tree he thought was Thomas Paine. "You think these are the times that try men's souls? You think you can go around saying nasty things about your sovereign in public places? Take that, you devil!"
On Thanksgiving eve (2012), the name of King George III popped up once again on the pages of The Morning Call.
A new bunch of troublemakers assembled to redress some grievances at a public plaza known as SteelStacks. They did not care for "deed restrictions" that made it illegal to say anything that was not complimentary about a nearby gambling joint.
They also objected to a ban on any speech that favored labor unions, even though the public plaza is located at what was once the flagship plant of Bethlehem Steel, where much of the American labor movement was created. (I often say rotten things about labor unions, and especially union bosses, but I have not yet held that people should be prohibited from talking about them.)
The story said that Joe Welsh, a lawyer, referred to the American Revolution at the rally and talked about Sheldon Adelson, the Las Vegas billionaire gambling magnate who owns the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem. Welsh, it was reported, "reminded the crowd what happened after King George III trampled on the freedoms of the people in the 13 colonies."
At issue was a 2011 deed restriction Adelson's outfit demanded when it sold a few acres to the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, a government agency, so it could create a public area. The provision bans any speech critical of the casino.
Previous stories said Joseph Kelly, the city's director of community development, noted that people have been allowed to protest other things, such as abortion, and they have other public areas for demonstrations, such as the plaza near city hall.
The deed approved by the Redevelopment Authority last year, however, provides that labor unions may not organize in the SteelStacks public area, and it says any activity with a "theme" that casino operators find "offensive" is also banned.
"Mr. Adelson, this is our land," Welsh was quoted as saying at this week's rally.
Bethlehem Police Chief Jason Schiffer was at the rally but apparently did not crack down on the lawbreakers engaging in illegal free speech. He stipulated that his officers would not disperse the crowd. (George III must be spinning in his grave. His officers knew how to disperse a crowd of protesters, as they proved in the Boston Massacre.)
The story quoted a spokeswoman for the Sands empire as saying no one was available for comment. That's a shame, because I'm sure Adelson would be able to make a cogent case for why we should return to the system favored by George III.
Ordinarily, Adelson is not shy about public dialogue. In the most recent political crusades, he sunk tens of millions of dollars into Super PAC spending to help Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and others, although nearly every candidate he backed lost. His attack ads did have some success, however. He helped oust western Pennsylvania Congressman Mark Critz, who worked mainly on behalf of the rabble — working families, military veterans, seniors, etc. And among Adelson's previously favored politicians is U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican from the Lehigh Valley.
Adelson, who says that anyone who wants the rich to pay more taxes is a "socialist," began his noble gambling casino quest in 1988 by buying the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, and there have been a few bumps on his way to accumulating his $20 billion.
There has been a federal investigation into bribery involving the Sands Corp. and Chinese mobsters, and another problem was a lawsuit brought by Adelson's former CEO, Steve Jacobs, who accused him of promoting prostitution in his casinos.
Anyway, now we have Adelson in Bethlehem, and we'd better not get caught saying anything unflattering about him or his gambling joint on public land in that city.
I have an idea that King George III is looking down from wherever he is now — actually, it might be more likely that he's looking up — and saying how thankful he is for people like Adelson and the politicians who give him everything he wants.
"If there were more loyal Americans like him back in the 1770s, things would have turned out much better," George III is probably saying, "and my gilded statue in New York City would still be there."
paul.carpenter@mcall.com 610-820-6176
Paul Carpenter's commentary appears Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
http://www.mcall.com/news/local/carpenter/mc-pc-bethlehem-sands-casino-protest-invokes-memor-20121123,0,4220071.column
Footnote: KG Urban, the brownfield developer salivating to invade New Bedford, partnered with Sands to erect Sands Bethlehem. The financial partner behind KG Urban has not been disclosed. Is it Sheldon Adelson?
Read this:
Massachusetts: The Greatest Show on Earth!
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