Freedom of speech. A fundamental right in the United States of America.
But are the Constitution and Bill of Rights under assault by the President and his Chicago cronies? And what about his judicial nominees? Are they activists waging war on the original intent of the Constitution and Bill of Rights?
Recent events seem to suggest that’s possible.
For instance:
- » Why does the President of the United States of America want to control the output of information from organizations like Fox News?
- » Why aren’t all news organizations under attack?
- » Why isn’t Michael Moore being threatened? His documentaries are highly inaccurate.
- » What about CBS News? Remember Dan Rather?
Whether you like Fox News, watch Fox News or watch any news, it seems freedom of speech is under attack on several fronts.
First and foremost, the Bill of Rights of our Constitution, the beloved law of our land, explicitly states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
– Article I of the Bill of Rights.
While there are many inaccuracies reported on a daily basis in news organizations, Internet blogs, web sites and numerous printed materials, why is the office of the Presidency only trying to silence one organization? Could it be they feel threatened by the information presented on Fox News?
Whether you agree or disagree with the editorial policy of any news station isn’t really the point here. The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States gives you the personal right to free speech, and the press the right to free speech.
Radio talk show hosts have the right to free speech. We can listen, not listen, agree or not agree, but we share that fundamental right and ability.
Does a dissenting view suggest that they shouldn’t have a view? Why can’t Americans have a dissenting view from the oval office? And does the administration’s attempt to silence opposing points of view leave you feeling more like we live in communist China than the good old U.S.A.?
We know what happens when free speech and censorship become the law of the land. Just take a look back in history …
What do Hitler, Mao Tse-Tung, Stalin, Castro, Kim Jong II, al-Qaddafi, Ahmadinejad, and Hugo Chavez all have in common?
They all seized control of their country’s news stations, the free flow of information, and political discourse! Especially TV and printed news.
The Tea Party movement is a great example of unhappy taxpayers expressing their views under their constitutional rights. Remind you of 18th century England? Should they be stopped by their government? I fear the day.
But is that what we’re headed for in the United States?
I should hope not! If the Constitution of the United States of America becomes a “living, breathing” nightmare controlled by the state, our daily lives will become a nightmare as well.
Your fundamental right to freedom of speech is guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States of America. Yet many of us are too busy in our daily lives to embrace this concept or even understand how it might affect our lives. If it isn’t touching us daily, we don’t have time to pay attention.
I can understand this concept. Between our jobs, children, housework and everything else thrown at us in a day, how does anyone have time to pay attention to politics?
But now is the time to pay attention! Take a few minutes out of your day to watch or listen to someone with a dissenting opinion. Don’t be satisfied with news that only fits your world view.
Organize your day so you can watch your local news. Then watch or research something different for 15 minutes out of your day.
Take the time to e-mail your elected officials and let them know you don’t appreciate your freedom of speech being challenged (or any other fundamental right guaranteed by our U.S. Constitution).
Become informed before you lose the ability to find truthful information that isn’t controlled by the government.
Get a pocket size Constitution to keep at home. Your children aren’t studying this at school! You can get a free copy from the Heritage Foundation.
Many Americans (me included) have taken our rights for granted. We think it’ll never happen in America. So we don’t take it seriously. We don’t protect our rights … in public … in private … or in the voting booth.
And I think it’s time we changed that.
Now, more than ever, we need to fight for our fundamental freedoms. We need to “speak truth to power” … to the President and to the rest of our elected officials.
Find the time. Do it today. Because, once we lose our freedoms, we may never get them back!
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