Monday, December 22, 2008

Freedom Of Speech

Thank God we live in a country that guaranties us freedom of speech. A place where we can speak our minds without fear of reprisal. Yes a land where you can speak your mind as long as you don’t disagree. At least that seems to be the point of view of some people. They want to force others to see things their way. They will demand the right to be herd under the first amendment, but refuse to let you disagree with them. These are the groups who vandalize a business or burn down a subdivision that is being built. They will picket a funeral of brave young soldiers bringing added grief to those loved them. To them nothing is too outrageous or disruptive because they are only exercising their freedom to express themselves.

Their freedom to express themselves, I didn’t know there was one. I thought it was freedom of speech. You know the freedom to standup and tell others what we think as long as we don’t yell fire in a crowded room or incite a riot. If others disagree with your point of view you do not have a right to force them to do what you want. After all they also have a right to have an opinion and express it publicly.

Now don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying we should not protest when we see something that is wrong. That is what civil disobedience is all a about. When something is wrong or unjust we should protest it, but we must protest in a way that does not bring harm to our fellow man and we must be ready to except the consequences for our actions. You can hold protest marches just don’t set fires or loot stores along the way and when the police come be ready to pay your fine or go to jail.

Remember you can tell me what you believe you just can’t hold a gun to my head and make believe it too.

1 comment:

  1. Have you notived all the Marches against what the Bush Administration has been doing the last 8 years. What good did it do? It done no good and it never will because our Government does not care what we think. If we still had a say in the way we are governed Mr. Bush would have had to stop his actions in Iraq. Norm.

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