Crossing Lines

The punishment is too much, of course, for a young man acting out of principle, who hurt no one and whose only harm done was to (at least temporarily) derail his own future. Knowing it is part of a continued effort across this country to silence dissent makes it all just the more chilling.

Every November, an extra fence goes up near Fort Benning, Georgia, and the annual passion play begins. The military and the protesters line up on their respective sides. The protesters hand out pamphlets and sing old protest songs. The state and military police stand on alert.

Every year someone crosses the line. This year the crossers included a teenager from Houston. Now he's going to prison. All for some dead men, women and children in Latin America. Now you know.