COMMENTARY

MILT THOMAS

As we approach July 4, our nation’s Independence Day,  this would seem to be an appropriate time for public officials to take a close look at the First Amendment to our Constitution, probably the most important amendment of all, which is why it is first. It does the following: it Protects freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

Speech, religion and press are freedoms missing from the constitutions of most countries around the world. I say most countries, because these are freedoms that are often only words on a sheet of paper. Many governments suppress them to maintain control over the very people a constitution is supposed to protect.

In this country, we certainly practice freedom of speech, the right to criticize and advocate as long as it doesn’t libel, slander, or promote ethnic hatred. In other words, you have the right to say it and we have the right not to listen.

Freedom of the press means the government cannot interfere with the expression of ideas or information in the media as long as it does not include information protecting our common national interest. That freedom is being tested as we speak.

Regarding freedom of religion, we have recently endured a spate of comments by public officials that seem to trample on that First Amendment right. Freedom of religion means you can worship or not worship in any way you choose without fear of government intimidation. As we celebrate the sacred concept of our independence and constitution, we need to keep in mind what our nation’s forefathers tried to achieve and how many of our fellow Americans died in the process of achieving it. The first amendment is not to be taken lightly, or ignored in a “weak moment.” Governments have fallen because of weak moments.

As Americans, our responsibility is to respect first amendment rights by respecting the people those rights apply to. That means no more rejection of a group because it doesn’t accept Jesus, or because you confuse it with atheism, or publish comments about unforgiving Jews, all recent remarks by local officials. That is language inconsistent with the idea of America. Freedom of religion was not included in the constitution to protect majority Christians, it was to protect Americans from those who might think Christianity is the only acceptable religion. Remember, the first pilgrims did not come here to establish a Christian nation – they came here to escape persecution because they would not accept the majority Church of England.

Some would have you believe that the second amendment, protecting the right to bear arms, is most important of all, but no amount of firearms can equate to the power of that First Amendment. So all you American Jews, Christians, Humanists, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and atheists, go out and enjoy our nation’s most important birthday, Independence Day. It is the reason all of your ancestors came to America.