Even bigots have rights

Sami al-Arian is a despicable little man. He holds thoroughly anti-Semitic views. He has called Jews "monkeys and pigs", called for the annihilation of Israel, and vocally supports various Palestinian terrorist groups (particularly Hamas and Islamic Jihad) and their activities, including suicide bombings. al-Arian is in the same ballpark as people like Fred Phelps as far as preaching and supporting hatred against fellow human beings.

However, he has never directly funded any terrorist activities, nor has he participated in any acts of terrorism. Therefore, his recent acquittal on various terrorism-related charges appears entirely appropriate. The First Amendment gives even the foulest bigots the right to spout their hatred. It also makes it incumbent upon all people of goodwill to exercise the same right of free speech to condemn bigotry in the strongest moral terms.

Sami al-Arian is not a martyr. He is merely a racist who has had his right to freedom of speech properly affirmed in court. We all enjoy this right. Let's use it.