The First Amendment...

Please, use this amendment wisely. I am a strong supporter of the Bill of Rights. I believe they are all important and still relevant today, but please use them wisely...especially the first amendment.

Lets take a look at it:

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.

Part 1: "...no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof:" They can't tell you what to believe or how to practice it. As long as your religion and the practice thereof does not harm, impede or contradict the rights of others. So you can't kill someone cause your religion says to. Part 1...easy.

Part 2: "...or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;" This gives you the write to speak out against the government, tell them what you think, tell your neighbor or produce an article calling the president/senator/governor a goof with out getting arrested or killed and stuff. It does not give you the right to be a fuckin' prick or be disrespectful (that is your right as a human) so don't cite "your 1st amendment rights" when you tell your buddy to ... and there is an eight year old and her mom sitting next to you on the train. That just reduces the value of the actually meaning of the amendment.

Part 3: "...or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Ok, this one is kind of a hot button right now. The whole "Tea Party" today got me thinking and spurred this entire post. YES, you have the right to peaceably assemble, protest, fight for what you believe in. And intelligence is not a pre-requisite. But think about what you put on that sharpie sign you made. I saw someone at the "Tea Party" in Chicago today it read: "Don't Spread My Wealth, Spread My Work Ethic." Here is my issue with this, IF YOU HAVE THIS AMAZING WORK ETHIC THAT WILL SAVE THE ECONOMY WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU AT A PROTEST ON A WEDNESDAY AT 10AM??? Should you be working? Really, come on now.

Anyway, that's all I had to say. One last bit of food for thought...

"I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it." Voltaire 1694-1778 (or maybe said by someone later about Voltaire's attitude)

Follow Up to "Save the World" Post

I found this article at www.huffingtonpost.com

The population growth statistics hit the nail on the head.