Posted by
Albino Moose on Thursday, April 16, 2009 12:00:00 AM
Hello, everyone! I always wanted to write something about the Albino Moose (that's me, don't ask). Here's my chance.
Today, I want to talk about freedom of speech and why some poeple think I don't deserve it. Yesterday, thousand of Americans exercised their 1st amendment rights and were told that they had no right to protest government actions because they had already had their chance to vote. Does this mean that once a politician is in office, we can't tell them what we'd like them to do or how we'd like to be represented? It's like saying, "It doesn't matter what I said I'd do, or whether I misrepresented myself, I'm here now and you'll take what I give you." I also have to hear that the original Boston Tea Party was about taxation without representation...we have representation in government, so we have no complaints now. I say, speak out, speak up!
Congressional Congressman Dr. Lymon Hall once said that he was not sure whether representing the people meant relying on their judgement or on his own. That is a very interesting question, especially in these days where a congressman's own judement seems to have no bearing at all on what his people want. Of course, when only 30% of the people vote, how can a representative figure out what they want? But when a congressman makes decisions that are so inconsistent with what thousands of their constituents want, and they strongly voice their opposition, does he not at least owe them the respect of reconsidering his actions?
During the Bush administration, Ms. Cindy Sheehan and a relatively small group of ant-war protesters followed the President around and picketed all over the country. I don't disgree with their right to do so. This group got so much publicity and air-time that they could not be ignored. Again, that's fine, they have a right to speak. The President acknowledged their protests and even offerred to meet with Ms. Sheehan to offer his condolences on the loss of her son...who PROUDLY CHOSE to serve his country. With the Tea Prty protests, however, the thousands have been either ignored or openly ridiculed by the media. The current President's spokespeople refer to these regular Americans as extremists and potential domestic terrorists. I never heard George Bush or his administration refer to Ms. Sheehan as a potentially dangerous extremist, even though her views most certainly represented a small minority of the population.
It is time for the far too quiet, sensible majority in America to stop being afraid of being called "dangerous," and stand up for your rights to have rights!
P.S. I noticed that none of the Tea Parties involved violence, obscene language, threats to public officials or other Americans, cruel name-calling, burning cars, etc. If we broke the law and were closed-minded haters, would we be taken more seriously? Fortunately, we are not haters, and never will be. We believe everyone has the right to be free, even if we disagree with them. Just offer us the same consideration.