I absolutely love my country, but the people in my country… We hold to our Constitution. We have rights that are given to us as citizens of the United States of America, and as citizens, we exercise those rights; however, we should exercise those rights responsibly. While exercising those rights responsibly sounds like a great idea or something we should already be doing, many times we fail in the responsibly part.
Write your little heart out. Blog your little heart out. Speak your mind, and freely speechify or grandstand as much as you want. Don’t hold back. Just remember words uttered without thought to your fellow man or woman, in other words without an ounce of consideration or courtesy, will be held against you no matter whom you are addressing and by those who are merely spectators.
Freedom of speech does not allow for us to scream “FIRE!” in a crowded theater scaring the living daylights out of everyone to the point where they are stampeding out the door. Freedom of speech does not allow for us to breathe death threats or threats of bodily harm to another. In both those cases, consequences are sure to follow. Admittedly though, people have the freedom to act as stupidly as they want because it’s a free country. They should know they need to own the garbage they created and now have to pay the consequences. Consequences are not something we choose. Consequences happen.
It’s always good to refresh your mind on what your rights are as a citizen. So I got this quote from the site http://www.usconstitution.net: “Amendment I FREEDOM OF RELIGION, SPEECH, PRESS, ASSEMBLY, AND PETITION. Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791. The first 10 amendments form the Bill of Rights. 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 redress of grievances…”
…but Political rallies bring out the worst in people. I get it. All of us are passionate about what we so strongly believe as individuals, what we consider important and moral, concerned how whatever happens affects us and our families, the communities we live in. The reality is though there will always be disagreements and lack of unity. And there is only one race: the human race; but I digress.
People make choices as to what they say or how they’ll react. <> I had a pastor who taught me never make decisions in the heat of emotion, and refrain from speaking in the heat of emotion. He taught me to step back immediately, to wait until calmed down, and then THINK about what to say or what to do. Yeah, admittedly, I have not always taken to that wise advice even though there are times I do.
Peaceful assembly?… How can an assembly be peaceful when speeches (words spoken) incite violence? I would like to believe the ones making the speeches would consider their words carefully before spouting them. How is the crowd going to react? But then again, those protesting also use words. The responsibility of words falls upon anyone who speaks. “If I say this, will it incite violence?” “Do my words convey hope?” “Am I going to regret these words later on?” “Should I calm down before I say what I can’t take back?” “If I say these words, is there a possibility I could end up in a full body cast or end up dead?” “If what I say infuriates the person and that person responds with an attack, will I end up retaliating or do I just keep my mouth shut?”
Lord, please let election time get here really fast
so the madness can end.
*Sighs*
Much love to all, Diamond In The Rough
Stained Glass Confessions 