Cross-cultural Historical Lessons

[…] Mr. Beck and company have become too self-aware to let themselves lose control of their message. From the outset, travelers were told unequivocally not to bring signs (on that same list ‘firearms’ is listed four times — ‘no firearms,’ ‘no weapons,’ ‘no ammunition’ and ‘no firearms or explosives’). The exacting social pressure of hissing and yelling was inveighed on those scofflaws who broke this prohibition. With only a minor effort, all that was left was the indefatigable cadres of one Mr. Alex Jones. I should note that either the dictates of dress-code propriety or reliance on the burden of printing/screening let clothing go unregulated, and remained a canvas for the free expression of absurdity. […]