I would like to cover what I think the amendments mean and add stories from my time conversing with the conservatives. I’ll start at the beginning the 1st Amendment which will take time since it covers so much.
Over time I have come to realize that somewhere along the way people have lost the common sense that nature has given them. When I speak to people and listen to their responses I’ve come to realize that there are other Americans that seem on the surface to believe in the Constitution but I’ve concluded that they feel that only applies to them and that only their interruption of it is all that matters. I want to voice my opinion, my thoughts on how I see the Constitution and the amendments.
I have conversed with conservatives and see a group of people that have a passion but don’t have a vision; they seem to be stuck in a world that is no bigger than what they can see with their own two eyes. Whereas the people like myself who are in the center or those to the left have a vision and the passion and see the country and the world as community of individuals working towards the goal of making the world and the country better for everyone that lives in it.
During one of my conversations I call the Constitution a ‘living document’ referring to the ability of the constitution to grow and change as the country grows and changes. I was attacked by the right for this view. They argued that there was no reason for changing it and it was fine just the way it was. This was funny coming from the right/republicans since they purposed 40 plus amendments in the last two years.
AMENDMENT I: Freedom of religion, speech, and press; right to assemble and petition. 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 the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Congress shall make no law:
Respecting an establishment of religion of the prohibiting the free exercise thereof:
Basically all religions are welcome within the borders of the USA; the government cannot make laws that favor one religion over another. This is one of the hot points that I hear the right now people saying over and over, this is a Christian nation. Yes it is but it’s also a nation of many other religions and beliefs. The most interesting point is that the people that claim to be Christian don’t act Christian. Have they ever heard the not to judge others, or baring false witness, or physically assaulting i.e. 2nd Amendment solution.
During the argument if to allow gays to marry one religious group wished to force their views and beliefs onto another’s. The argument about churches being force to perform gay weddings doesn’t make sense. Churches perform weddings for people of their own denomination, have you ever heard of a Catholic church performing an Islamic wedding? Also during the discussion on Gay marriage person complained that they were being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. This was a funny statement since they were complaining about being discriminated against because they couldn’t discriminate against homosexuals. And when they argued that their religious beliefs dictate that homosexuality was wrong. But then using their own argument would lead to the same conclusion that anyone anywhere couldn’t be held responsible for their actions if their religion justified it.
Our country was founded so people of the world had a place free of religious persecution and the freedom to worship as they wish or not worship at all. One thing that has been lost in the argument of the freedom of religion is the freedom ‘from’ religion. No one should be force to follow the guidelines set forth in a religious belief if they are not a member of the religion.
Congress shall make no law:
or abridging the freedom of speech:
This is pretty straight forward; anyone has the right to say what’s on their mind. Excluding the obvious like shouting fire in a crowded room, etc. I also thing that lying is not protected by the 1st amendment. People say things which they say that they’re just stating their opinion but are their facts backing their opinion. If there are no facts that back the comment then the comment is libel or slander which is against the law.
Don’t get me wrong there is a difference between disagreeing with a policy decision and lying about what the policy says or means. There is a difference between disagreeing with a person and being disagreeable with them. I’ve had many conversations with people on policies, some that were on the right and some on the left, but it’s 95% disagreeable coming from the right compared to 5% from the left. The propensity of the right to call people names and be just downright nasty isn’t productive to resolve the situation, it just makes them seem like children not getting their way and throwing a temper tantrum.
Congress shall make no law:
or of the press;
Freedom of the press, to me, is very much like freedom of speech, except your held to a much higher standard to be right about what you say or write about. The press should be about the truth of a subject and politicizing and taking sides, Just the facts and only the facts.
Congress shall make no law:
or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This is the one that I think the right has a problem with, peaceably assemble. Looking at the tea party gatherings and you would think they were preparing for war. They sound and look like angry vigilantes. Their favor it ‘hoping we don’t have to use a 2nd amendment solution’. Now does that sound peaceable? In the years after I figured out what politics was I’ve send letters in the old days, i.e. prior to computers, to my representatives. Not once did I ever say to them, no matter how strongly the feeling, that I was considering a 2nd amendment solution if I didn’t get my way.
Is the world and the country just changing to fast for the right or are they just that afraid of the future that is coming, and it is coming and nothing will stop it. You might be able to slow it down or distract it for a short while but in the end all you would end up looking like is an old scared pessimist, screaming to stop the bus I want to get off. People need to talk to one another like human beings, with dignity and respect. When you yell and call people names you just seem like the dirty old crazy guy I see one the corner on the way to work. I don’t listen to him because hes rude and like to insult you, so why should I feel sorry for him or help him, quite possibly when he’d need it the most.