First Amendment

I have heard it said that when a tyrant wants to eliminate freedom and consolidate power, the first thing to go is the freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Look at nations like China, where they are famous for their violation of freedom. They are one of many, many nations that kill people for converting to religions they do not like. Christianity is one of the favorite worldwide. (In India, Muslims and Hindus hate each others and both are highly violent. However, they know the repercussions and retaliations that would follow, so they kill Christians, who "turn the other cheek.")

We have seen the affects, in the USSR, Nazi Germany, North Korea, Vietnam, and most every Muslim country. Actually, in many ways, only America has afforded these freedom to the degree we have them. The first Amendment of the Bill of Rights, the basis for the rest of our rights, 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 the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Or maybe I should say had. They are trying to eliminate these. Who? Those in power. Those in power want more. From the Patriot Act, we see clear violation-freedom of speech. Even in the past, they said "You can't assemble unless you are under a flag." We have these rights in our own country regardless of props.

This week seniors were told they could not say grace before dinner. Seriously? Seniors? I guarantee there were veterans in that crowd. Vets who preserved those freedoms in places like Iwo Jima, Germany, Korea, and Vietnam now were being denied the first of our rights (the nursing home since reversed the decision).

President Obama, unfortunately also makes this list of violators. He tried repeatedly to silence his critics in unprecedented ways. He attempted to deny Fox News access to the press core, until the other networks balked. He has also been on a rampage against Glenn Beck. Yesterday, he made a speech saying that things like the iPod and Xbox were evil, because there was too much information out there. For starters, the Xbox doesn't spread information. Two, he specifically talked about conservative bloggers (me), talk radio hosts, Fox News, and virtually anything else that contradicts the all-powerful White House.

You also have the Attorney General trying to get Miranda Rights to no longer apply to US citizens. I don't care if they don't tell me I have the right to a jury trial, silence, speedy trial, to an attorney, and protected from unreasonable search and seizure or cruel and unusual punishment. They are trying to say that I don't have those rights until they tell me I do. Screw that. Those rights are given to me by the signers of the Declaration, and all those who have fought and died for this country since. I don't care what they tell me. They are trying to strip that away for any citizen "suspected of terrorist ties." Considering some (like Nancy Pelosi) consider anyone who voices a differing opinion of being a terrorist, this is not comforting.