Just when you think the U.S. couldn’t become more like a totalitarian state, our right-wing friends in Congress come up with a new assault on our freedoms.

Maybe “assault,” isn’t the right word, because the right wing relies more on Trojan Horses than battering rams. They slip surprises into 600-page bills, give no one time to read them, and pass them in the dead of night, when no one is looking.

Here’s the latest insult. The House-Senate Conference Committee’s proposed changes to the Patriot Act have two provisions that should frighten every American. First, Section 602 allows a person to be thrown into prison for a year for holding up an “unauthorized sign” at a Democratic or Republican national convention, an appearance by the President or Vice President, or any other event designated by the Secret Service as a “national security event.” Second, Section 603 criminalizes entering a Democratic or Republican national convention with “forged credentials,” which may include the common, time-honored practice of sharing entry passes.

Admittedly, the convention provisions are less troubling. Both major parties’ conventions have long been tightly orchestrated pageants, without any serious debate about the nation’s future. I personally experienced how aggressively the 2004 Democratic National Convention organizers prohibited any display of disagreement with John Kerry. Still, the parties don’t need government help in stifling dissent!

But prohibiting protest when the President comes to town, on taxpayers’ dime, to address the people? Public appearances by Bush and Cheney, financed by taxpayer dollars, have routinely excluded everyone but the President’s faithful supporters. People have been removed from public events with the President, because Bush’s staff found out they had John Kerry stickers on their cars. But it isn’t enough to remove citizens who respectfully exercise their First Amendment rights. Now we’re going to throw them into prison!

Since our nation’s founding, freedom of speech has been at the core of the values we share as Americans, and we have especially protected political speech in public settings. This is the very kind of speech George W. Bush wants to criminalize. Apparently, disagreement with the President is a threat to national security!

Public debate has made our communities strong. Most of our progress toward a fair society, whether ensuring equal rights or ending child labor, has happened because people with unpopular views had the right to address, inform and persuade fellow citizens.

Now more than ever, we need to exercise our free speech rights. Here are some opportunities!

Women in Black, a group that, dressed in black and silently protesting war, holds vigils in Portland on Fridays at noon at the Nickelodeon Theater and 5 p.m. at High/Congress. Call 772-0680.

Brunswick also has peace vigils every Friday at 5:30 p.m, at the downtown end of the Mall. Starting Friday, Jan. 6, the vigils will be followed by a Conversation CafA?© at the Little Dog CafA?©, to talk about living simply in a complicated world.

On Saturday, Jan. 7, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in Brunswick’s Curtis Memorial Library, there will be a statewide meeting of the Maine Campaign for a Department of Peace.

To honor Martin Luther King, Jr., on Jan. 11, 11 a.m., at Sen. Susan Collins’ Portland office, there will be a reading of the names of all the U.S. soldiers who have died in Iraq, totaling over 2,175 now. Call 773-8382.

On Jan. 14 at the Steep Falls Fire Barn, Citizens for Responsible Development are cooking a Spaghetti Dinner and we’ll have liberal conversation at the 6 p.m. seating.

On Jan. 28, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., Peace Action Maine will hold its annual Peace Supper, with food, awards and music, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Portland. Reserve early: 772-0680 or visit www.peaceactionme.org.