Losing Our Rights

Recently the House and Senate Democrats have initiated a petition against popular conservative, Republican party-hawk, radio host Rush Limbaugh. The subject matter of this petition refers to the fact that Rush stated that he hopes the Obama presidency fails. Granted this petition has no legal significance other than asking for people to express their outrage that Rush would say such a thing, however, the actual significance for the House and Senate Democrats actions are far greater than simply expressing disagreement or even outrage.
The Dems are attempting to stifle one of the long standing and important rights guaranteed by our Constitution. This right is the freedom of speech. While our constitution guarantees this right, it in no way grants it. There are certain rights, inalienable and inherent in man, granted not by any government or by any means of man, but granted unto all mankind by our Creator. Among these rights is the right to think and choose as we desire. Part of that right is our right to speak.
Governments have in the passed attempted to quash man’s freedom to speak. In such societies, it became a crime to speak out against the government, the rulers, and even against the predominant religion. The punishments varied from simple fines to death. Examples of such societies include Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Spain during the inquisition, Germany under Hitler, and even Colonial America. While this right was not completely abolished in Colonial America, it was hindered such to the point that our divinely inspired founding fathers felt the need to explicitly guarantee this right, through the Bill of rights. Such was the importance that government should not trample this right, that it was labeled as the First Amendment.
Today, the freedom of speech is not absolutely guaranteed by our government. There are restrictions and limitations for which most of us are grateful. We have ordinances that limit loud noises in residential areas, particularly late at night. We have restrictions as to the time, place and manner of certain speech done on public property. Over broadcast airwaves, speech is limited by the FCC to avoid things such as Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words, but never before has our government thought to restrict criticism of itself which does not create incitement of riots or solicitations of other illegal acts.
Limbaugh’s statements may be outrageous to some, and inappropriate to some, but they are simply a criticism of potential policies set forth by the current President. Similar statements have been made numerous times over in regards to the President George W. Bush administration. Here, the difference is that one party was expressing their distaste against another is now being criticized. Now they would like to stifle the freedom of speech. As stated, this petition has not legal consequences for Mr. Limbaugh, but it does set a precedence which could lead to more stringent restrictions. Soon, such statements as harmless as a mere stated hope will be banned even before they are spoken.
This creates an odor that any stated disagreement would be outlawed. While this slope we are descending may not lead to a complete prior restraint on complaints against the government during the President Obama administration, it is still leading there. Perhaps the next president will be a more Conservative president but will seize this power and prevent complaints against him. It is a blade that cuts both ways, be it Liberal or Conservative. It begins to smell of Nazi Germany and even the Eugenics program. Disagreement will be viewed as heretical and incitement. Such a stench should be protected by our Constitution, but already with the limits on free speech to which we have agreed, further limitations would surely be accepted.
I find it abhorrent that members of the governing body of this great country know as these United States of America would attempt to impose such restrictions on their constituents. Our government has already taken more of our liberties than our founding fathers could have ever imagined. If they were alive today, they would be advocating for a new revolution. We have an unelected body of people making laws and decisions that are affecting our lives and choices. I believe the Supreme Court tries to uphold the Constitution and attempts to interpret it, however, their Judicial Review was an overstep of their powers back when Marbury sued Madison. Now it is not even the branch of government that claims to have the right to interpret our rights, but the branch that we elect that wants to restrict them. I hope that this petition remains no more than just a petition. I hope that our government will not try to stifle our inherent rights. I hope that this country will remain strong. The only way America stays strong is through the strength of her citizens. It is not our military might or our economic wealth that people around the world seek when they flee their countries to come here, it is our freedoms. I hope we can retain them, all of them.