ATTENTION: Unexpected bonus post.
Tonight I’m wondering what country I’m in.
Earlier today I commented on super blogger Rachel Held Evans’ post. She addressed the latest upset about Rush Limbaugh and how Christians are responding. Her post got a whopping 325 comments before they were closed because of trolls.
Rather than have you rummage through all that, here’s an excerpt of my lengthy comment:
As for Rush, his delivery is faulted, even distasteful. Like it or not, he’s protected just like you and I are under the First Amendment to speak and have a place at the table of public discourse. I would argue that some of his political points are spot-on in line with an evangelical perspective, especially regarding right to life issues. And he has a platform and an audience.
Tonight I revisited to see if Evans responded. She didn’t and I didn’t expect her to. But a couple other bloggers did.
Here’s the reply that zapped me back to the U.S.S.R.:
“Like it or not, he’s protected just like you and I are under the First Amendment to speak and have a place at the table of public discourse.”
Actually, he’s not.
The First Amendment states, “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.”
No one is petitioning Congress to make a law about Rush Limbaugh. No one is trying to get the government to intervene. People have asked political figures their opinion, but they have not asked them to legislate on the issue.
No one is guaranteed a podium from which to spew hate speech. They are simply guaranteed freedom from government intervention.
Actually he’s not? Again I wonder, what country is this anyway?
The spirit of the First Amendment means everyone may speak even if we disagree. It’s the backbone or at least the ribcage of our other freedoms.
Am I to understand it’s en vogue to toss that spirit on a technicality? It’s now okay to censor as long as it’s not the government that does the dirty work?
Lawyers, scholars, law-abiding Americans, I need you here. Someone, anyone, weigh in, please. I’m listening.
What do ya’ll think?
You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 NLT
The Beatles, Back in the U.S.S.R.
