Mario Savio, Berkley, Speech, Christopher Hitchens and Me
Christopher Hitchens has written an interesting piece on Berkely and the Free Speach Movement for the Times Literary Supplement.

Mario Savio was held up as a hero, by my father when I was a child. My uncle had some involvement in the protests that followed Savio's demonstration. In my education about modern politics and society, the steps in Berkely that are now named after Savio served as a center. My opposition to all forms of censorship and my current place in journalism probably stem in part from Savio and the FSM.

I share some of Hitchens concerns about the directions these things have taken, though I'm entirely with Hitch on this piece. The continuation of the FSM, in bulk, seems to be a lame or perverted thing, not worthy of the name or the bravery of Savio.