Freedom Of Speech - An Endangered Idea?

Huey Long is credited to having said, “Fascism will come to America, but likely under another name, perhaps anti-fascism.”

Today those that oppose jihad are labeled fascists. By merely speaking a concern in America of the threat of Islamic Extremism, one is labeled “Islamophobic” or a preacher of hate and promoter of hate speech. It seems that in the country that claims to be the most free of all, calling a spade a spade is no long the correct thing to do.

Freedom of speech means to allow expressions of ideals that one does not believe in. It is no exercise of freedom of speech to allow vocal expression of ideals in which you adhere to. It is the allowing of words that promote differing opinions or beliefs that is the true exercise of freedom of speech.

In America’s attempt to be more tolerant, it is becoming less tolerant of ideas that are in opposition of those in power. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calls “Teas Party” goers anti-American, unpatriotic, and “Astroturf” instead of a true grass roots movement. She is proudly expressing the opinion of many politicians in power that only those who follow their lead have the right to express their beliefs. All others are labeled fascists, “Right-wing extremists” and even compared to Nazis.

Freedom of speech in America is guaranteed by the First Amendment to our Constitution but it is a right that many are told they do not have, all in the name of defining what freedom if speech is. This is done of course according to their new liberal guidelines.

Radio talk show hosts that espouse a Conservative point of view and expose a liberal agenda that is contrary to what the Constitution states is the law of the land, are lambasted daily from the hill. TV commentators such as Glenn Beck, who have the courage to shed light on things this administration would rather have kept in the dark, are attacked openly and shamelessly by the White House itself.

Honest debate on an issue is forbidden if that debate would expose flaws and a hidden agenda. The Climate Change agenda is threatened by those who do not believe the debate has reached a solid conclusion. That is why those that seek to monopolize on the idea of man-made global warming for profit continuously shout that “the debate is over” when in fact it has barely begun.

Few broadcast outlets have the courage to question the agenda of powerful politicians and they do so at their own peril. They are demonized and berated for simply exercising their First Amendment right of free speech. Their silencing is a top priority for Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and even President Barack Obama.

In targeting those who dare expose this administration’s socialistic agenda and unconstitutional methods and intentions, those same people who swore to protect the Constitution “against all enemies foreign and domestic” become enemies of the Constitution themselves and promoters of hindering free speech.

What will the result of such arrogance be? It reshapes America into a country that cites freedom of speech as a virtue all the while seeking to deprive this country of that virtue. In their way of thinking, exposing a lie is worse than the telling of it.

In our War on Terror, (which I still prefer to call it rather than the sissified “Overseas Contingency” of this administration), is hindered at every turn and prevents us from becoming effective in this fight. And when the fight is being brought home to us, right here on our soil, it becomes evident that freedom of speech will be a causality of that fight too.

To speak out against the 35 training centers known to be here in America that preach jihad and Wahabbism, a very strict and violent form of Islam, is considered unprotected speech. To draw attention to the 200+ mosques in this country that are a threat to our security is considered “hate speech” and called “Islamophobia”. We can actually be accused of “inciting violence” against Muslims simply by stating the truth about issues that concern us. How can we directly and effectively confront an enemy we are not allowed to speak against? We cannot.

Often C.A.I.R. (the Counsel on American-Islamic Relations) has said that true statements about Islam and jihad should be classified as hateful or “hate speech”. This ploy effectively forbids discussion of the reality of jihad and this gives the advantage of continuing to operate in the dark, unabated and without legitimate criticism.

What happens when we are not allowed to speak against an enemy and expose his agenda? We give aid and comfort to that enemy and actually help them in promoting their aggression. By twisting the meaning of free speech, we are denied freedom of speech.

In this vein of thinking, one who dared to speak out against the atrocities of Hitler’s Germany would be considered by that government as a purveyor of hate speech. Such a person today would be charged and possibly persecuted for hate crimes simply because they pointed out something that was wrong, even inhumane. Since when does exposing an evil become evil?

Still today to point out wrongs in the government is considered more evil that those who seek to promote those wrong policies. President Obama accused Republicans recently of spreading fear because they had the guts to speak out about issues they have with the health care proposition. It is as if everyone should keep quiet about shady deals, corrupt methods, closed-door meetings, special interest arrangements and flaws in their agenda because if people know about them they’ll become afraid.

I do not think Obama is as afraid of people becoming fearful as he is of them becoming adamant that they do not want and will not tolerate such changes to the way America operates. Why do you think the health care legislation is being done in the dark, behind closed doors especially after Obama promised that such things would be done openly for the sake of transparency? Because evil always works in the dark and shedding light on anything exposes the flaws. After all, he took office to “fundamentally change the United States of America” and to that end he is working tirelessly.

In ancient times when someone was in a pottery shop to buy a vessel for holding water for instance, they would take the clay pot outside into the daylight. Holding it up to the sun caused tiny cracks to become apparent as the sunlight would seep through the cracks and expose the flaw. That is where the phrase to “shed some light” on a matter came from. The light of day always exposes faults. The faulty vessel was then returned to the shelf and a more fitting one was chosen. Sadly this administration loves the darkness rather than the light.

Our Constitution is under attack by those sworn to protect it. Our freedom of speech guarantee is threatened. Our right to keep and bear arms, a right recognized by the founding fathers as a means by which the people could keep a corrupt government in check, is under attack. Our right to own and protect our property is often trampled upon by a government seeking to confiscate it for the “common good” by corrupt politicians who think they have better uses in mind for your property than you do.

The Constitution of the United States is more than a piece of paper. It is the guideline for a way of life that has blessed us and in turn blessed the world. It does not need to be apologized for. It does not need to be dismissed as out-dated. It certainly does not need to be re-written to fit our changing times. We are supposed to operate within the confines of that document, to conform to the guidelines found there, and not to change it to conform to us.

If every piece of legislation considered by Congress was held to the standard of “does this conform to the Constitution”, many laws would never be written and America would not have lost the image it once held before the world and before its own people.

The elections of 2010 will be an opportunity for Americans to show their distaste for corruption and replace guilty representatives. It is a right they have yet to take away, although some desire to see it restricted. It is a right we had better use before our complacency causes that liberty to become eroded as well.

Just as walking from a dark theater into the bright light of the afternoon sun causes us to flinch and squint, so does exposing corruption to the light causes it to flinch as well. And as for the politicians who prefer to operate in the dark, it is time to “shed some light” on them too. As we see them for who they are, with their corrupt flaws, we can choose to make better choices. Put them back on the shelf and choose fitting vessels into which we can pour our trust and confidence.