AuntieWillow's Journal: Burning Bridge

Sorry for the pun, but I couldn't resist. The Winning Team at an international Bridge competition in Shanghai held up a sign at the awards dinner, a sign that reads "We Did Not Vote For Bush". Now, They face Sanctions from the United States Bridge Federation. Three of the seven team members have apologized, but four have not. The four remaining are facing a one-year suspension and then one years probation, at least one of them is a professional bridge player and would stand to lose money because of it. Many of the members say that they held up the sign in response to questions and statements from many international players over the policies of the Bush Administration. So...Do Non-Profit American Games federations have the right to punish free speech by their members at events? Is dissent patriotic? Is disapproval of a president with 76 % disapproval rating shocking?