If you Like Your Freedoms, Thank a Protestor

Excerpt from the US Constitution:

first amendment: an overview
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmenti) protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. See U.S. Const. amend. I. Freedom of expression consists of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief. The Supreme Court interprets the extent of the protection afforded to these rights. The First Amendment has been interpreted by the Court as applying to the entire federal government even though it is only expressly applicable to Congress. Furthermore, the Court has interpreted, the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment as protecting the rights in the First Amendment (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmenti.html) from interference by state governments. See U.S. Const. amend. XIV (http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html#amendmentxiv).

Two clauses in the First Amendment guarantee freedom of religion. The establishment clause prohibits the government from passing legislation to establish an official religion or preferring one religion over another. It enforces the "separation of church and state. Some governmental activity related to religion has been declared constitutional by the Supreme Court. For example, providing bus transportation for parochial school students and the enforcement of "blue laws" is not prohibited. The free exercise clause prohibits the government, in most instances, from interfering with a persons practice of their religion.

The most basic component of freedom of expression is the right of freedom of speech. The right to freedom of speech allows individuals to express themselves without interference or constraint by the government. The Supreme Court requires the government to provide substantial justification for the interference with the right of free speech where it attempts to regulate the content of the speech. A less stringent test is applied for content-neutral legislation. The Supreme Court has also recognized that the government may prohibit some speech that may cause a breach of the peace or cause violence. The right to free speech includes other mediums of expression that communicates a message.

No Lash, Amigo doesn't have to be a Christian to be in this conversation. I was asking because he made a pretty broad statement about the majority of/many Christians and I was just asking for clarification on how he arrives at this.

What are you in the mood for ? Comedy ? Sanctimonious Drama ? Thread Jerker ?

Amigo--

I'm glad you showed up. I learned a bit more about you, but I think pachelbel's head is about to explode, (we've Jesus'ed up his thread) so I'll see you in the funny papers...

Yes - the one mentioned in the article concerning a NO FREE SPEECH ZONE. Is that specific enough for you?

Since when did Americans lose the right to peacefully assemble? These are priests, for crissakes. What will the cops do, fire rubber bullets at them? That has already been done to another group who were peacefully protesting. The fact that a guy has been jailed for trespassing, for such a long period of time, points to the fact that your rights are going fast. Thanks to the Patriot Act. The White House will not allow protestors to get within earshot of Bush. You call that legal? Guess we'll have to consult Debra_Law - pass the popcorn, please

Mamma, I meant to say I know more then you think I know not "I know more then you"

I'm Canadian but I'll ask: In what ways have your rights been eroded, from say 60 years ago? I choose 60 years because it a good chunk of 1 life span.

Pachelbel,

If I am reading that article correctly it says that the protestors are going to protest in the "No Free Speech Zone" which is in front of the White House? Correct? They are talking about a specific area in Washington, D.C. near the White House where speeches are not allowed? I was there a long time ago and seem to remember something about this but will have to look it up.

So, if they know they aren't supposed to be on this part of property protesting they are then breaking the law, correct? Sure doesn't stop them from being one foot outside that zone and protesting, does it?

Do you think just anyone can walk up to the White House with a group, parade, etc., and protest? I don't think so. As long as the protesters are working well within the law I say more power to them.

Amigo,

I figured that's what you meant. You aren't one given to making statements like that. No harm, no foul.

Indie sleeper!!! Critically acclaimed...!! What do you like?

Gotta go with The Station Agent... You'll love it.

I'll pop the popcorn.

Can't wait for you to get here.

I keep thinking about those poor money changers, they were just doing their capitol venture thang.

Yeah!

seaglass nor olga benefit from the capitalist economy...?

Am I missing something here?

Lash, Lash, you can't see our tongues stuck firmly in our cheeks? :wink:

<I was looking hard for it!! Thanks for pointing it out!!!>

Just a quick aside here, seaglass I noticed a thread not long ago people asking about Merry Andrew. May I ask if he is ok?

He's just fine Momma Angel.

Last time I say him he was headed out the door with a retired stripper from the Borscht Circuit named Mary Magdalene. They were going looking for a dude named Jesus del Christo. Mary was muttering something about a paternity suit.

Uh, ok. At least he's okay. You seem to be taking it quite well I must say.

BRIAN MURPHY
Sat Feb 18, 2:05 PM ET


PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) - A coalition of American churches sharply denounced the U.S.-led war in Iraq on Saturday, accusing Washington of "raining down terror" and apologizing to other countries for "the violence, degradation and poverty our nation has sown."

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The statement, issued at the largest gathering of Christian churches in nearly a decade, also warned the United States was pushing the world toward environmental catastrophe with a "culture of consumption" and its refusal to back international accords seeking to battle global warming.

"We lament with special anguish the war in Iraq, launched in deception and violating global norms of justice and human rights," said the statement from representatives of the 34 U.S. members of World Council of Churches. "We mourn all who have died or been injured in this war. We acknowledge with shame abuses carried out in our name."

The World Council of Churches includes more than 350 mainstream Protestant, Anglican and Orthodox churches; the Roman Catholic Church is not a member. The U.S. groups in the WCC include the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Methodist Church, several Orthodox churches and Baptist denominations, among others.

The statement is part of widening religious pressure on the Bush administration, which still counts on the support of evangelical churches and other conservative denominations but is widely unpopular with liberal-minded Protestant congregations.

Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, the moderator for the U.S. group of WCC members, said the letter was backed by the leaders of the churches but was not cleared by lower-level bodies. He predicted friction within congregations about the tone of the message.

"There is much internal anguish and there is division," said Kishkovsky, ecumenical officer of the Orthodox Church of America. "I believe church leaders and communities are wrestling with the moral questions that this letter is addressing."

On Friday, the U.S. National Council of Churches - which includes many WCC members - released a letter appealing to Washington to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and saying reports of alleged torture violated "the fundamental Christian belief in the dignity of the human person."

The two-page statement from the WCC group came at the midpoint of a 10-day meeting of more than 4,000 religious leaders, scholars and activists discussing trends and goals for major Christian denominations for the coming decades. The WCC's last global assembly was in 1998 in Zimbabwe - just four months after al-Qaida staged twin bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

"Our country responded (to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks) by seeking to reclaim a privileged and secure place in the world, raining down terror on the truly vulnerable among our global neighbours . . . entering into imperial projects that seek to dominate and control for the sake of national interests," said the statement. "Nations have been demonized and God has been enlisted in national agendas that are nothing short of idolatrous."

Rev. Sharon Watkins, president of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), worried that some may interpret the statement as undermining U.S. troops in Iraq.

"We honour their courage and sense of duty, but . . . we, as people of faith, have to say to our brothers and sisters, 'We are so profoundly sorry,"' Watkins said.

The message also accused U.S. officials of ignoring warnings about climate change and treating the world's "finite resources as if they are private possessions." It went on to criticize U.S. domestic policies for refusing to confront racism and poverty.

"Hurricane Katrina revealed to the world those left behind in our own nation by the rupture of our social contract," said the statement.

The churches said they had "grown heavy with guilt" for not doing enough to speak out against the Iraq war and other issues. The statement asked forgiveness for a world that's "grown weary from the violence, degradation and poverty our nation has sown."


For you to consume along with your popcorn. Don't choke, now.