The Rush To Crush the First Amendment

The Rush to Crush the First Amendment

Published in the Aiken Standard

August 21,2017

I have no tolerance for any organization or individual, regardless of their names, who preach the unconstitutional treatment of any persons residing in the US.  That should be enough to understand my position on any cult that fits the "unconstitutional treatment" group.

Evelyn Beatrice Hall said it best.  "I disapprove of what you say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it."  This is the essence of the right to free speech contained in the First Amendment.

Out of the violence of Charlottesville, VA not a word is heard about the rights of the white supremacist to assemble and speak in compliance with a permit that was originally approved by local authorities.  No matter how hateful their speech, absent the "Fire" in a crowded theatre scenario, they have a Constitutional right to express themselves.

But like dozens of riots across the nation over the past two years, counter demonstrators who attend from all over the US but seldom from the state in which the demonstration is held, arrive with masks covering their faces with clubs and other weapons to assault what would, otherwise, have been a peaceful demonstration.

These people are the source of the violence.  Yet no one is looking to arrest or indict these counter demonstrators.  No one in the justice department is looking to charge counter demonstrators with a variety of assault charges.  Fox news showed a board/club with exposed screws protruding from the end of the club.  Not once did I hear or view a source who would swear that this club was taken from the hands of one of the demonstrators and not from a counter demonstrator.

Press and political language has been over the top irresponsible.  I include the President in this group.  It is this rush to judgment, this use of language that can not be taken back, this weakness to face the uncontrolled mobs of the politicians and the entire fourth estate that make us vulnerable.

It is this crisis mode flamed by a repetitious press that causes us to forget our and their Constitutional rights.  Of such events are governments over thrown and replaced with tyrants.  Allow the law to give due process to the driver of the car and if found guilty of the charges, expose him to the maximum sentences available.  Keep in mind, the more the TV stations beat this subject to death, the more like minded domestic terrorist will be radicalized and their ranks swollen from all the attention.

Have faith in your Constitution.  If these wacko's from the most outlying fringes of our society had been allowed to speak, three Americans would be alive today and 20 injured would not have gone to hospital and the white supremacist dogma would not have been spread all over the world.  Recall, seldom does a fanatic give up his/her fanaticism based on some hyped-up news program or the blah, blah, blah of some vote scalping politician.