TT: U.S. soldier discovers freedom of speech does not cover obscene language

A US Soldier found himself on the wrong side of the law yesterday, when he began using obscene language on the final leg of Borough Day celebrations in Point Fortin.

The soldier told police that he had come to Trinidad on a short vacation and had attended the cool-down at Clifton Hill on the invitation of friends.

Investigators said they heard the soldier using obscene language and spoke to him. It is alleged he put up a struggle.

He was arrested and charged with using obscene language and resisting arrest.
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The accused will appear before a Point Fortin magistrate today.

Run DMC discovered that obscene language is not acceptable as public currency in TT when they gave a rap concert and out flew the expletives. People pelted them off the stage with toilet paper** and other assorted missiles. Concert goers were highly offended that they'd come to the concert, some with their children, only to hear rap cuts peppered with John Kerry words.

Lesson to tourists to the Caribbean: cursing in public will get you arrested for using obscene language. Think of it as one of Rudy Giuliani's quality of life issues. Yes, the magistrates know obscenity when they hear it; the police know it, too, and that's why you'll be arrested for it. Yes, the listening public will think your mouth stinks when they hear a stream of obscenities from you, and they'll consider you a low-life. No, John F'fin Kerry could not get away with spouting gratuitous obscenities; the same young people he's trying to impress that he's hip will look at him, with scorn, too, and say, "what happen to he? what he playing? big politician like he, and he getting on so?" Yes, we like it like that.

** Why toilet paper? Free speech. Trinis use rolls of toilet paper to provide instant editorial commentary when they go to concerts. If the artistes are providing a sub-par performance, Trinis will begin waving toilet paper. The message: get the hell off the stage; your performance is gobar!