When I turned 17 years old, I joined the military and took an oath to support and defend the constitution of this country. I was at the time not even old enough to vote, or to drink a beer, but I felt a duty to serve and protect my country, and our beliefs and I still do.
The First Amendment of our Constitution addresses free speech, and it is first for a reason! it permits Americans to publicly say almost anything about anybody, for so long as they don't advocate violence, or infringe on others rights. This right of free speech is broadly used by citizens, politicians, and newsmen to speak their minds and express ideas.
In our country, this is known as public debate. It sometime bruises, but on the whole, it is a healthy and necessary thing for a free society.
Most of us try to observe a good moral scene when we speak, we may not always agree on what is said, but for the most part we accept the notion that people will disagree. Some people on the other hand exercise freedom of speech to dehumanize, belittle or defame others; mostly this is seen as “Hate Speech”.
Federal laws are now in place to protect citizens from hate speech, if a crime is committed against a person, and a racial, religious or homophobic slur is used, it is assessed with additional penalties because it is categorized as a hate crime.
But these protections do not seem to exist for one group, ironically and strangely enough the largest of all in the United States (85% of the population) Christians.
Every racial and religious group is protected by the moral and legal consensus of what constitutes acceptable speech, except for Christians. Why is it alright to bash Christians, and when did it become ok to belittle one religious group, but not others?
If I make a joke about Muhammad, or Islam is that socially alright, if I joke about Gays or handicapped people do I now get a pass?
There are groups in this country dedicated to fighting for, and protecting “Minorities” and freedom of speech, some examples are the ACLU, NAACP, LULAC, ADL,CIAR just to name a few.
Where is the defense of Christianity, where is the public outcry? Why are Christians allowing this to happen without speaking out against it? We have a malaise when it comes to defending ourselves, and the more we allow it to happen, the worse it gets.
Here are just a few of the more popular examples:
Members of the artistic community and political liberals rush to the defense of stuff like this on the grounds of free and creative speech. But for some reason they refuse to address the fundamental question: Would this same lack of respect be shown to Islam, Judaism, or the Gay Community? Would a picture of a Black man Hanging from a tree be considered art, and even be funded by tax dollars?
Of Course not, the Law suites and protests would be on every channel, and on the front pages of news papers.
I resent such works, I resent such insults, and I am tired of people getting a pass when it comes to insulting me, and people like me, or my beliefs, it honestly pisses me off, and it should you too!
Your Tax dollars help pay for some of this, and it seems to me it is no big deal to most. Have the courage of your convictions Stand up and say this is not acceptable! Do not allow people to disrespect you, me, and our faith just because you’re afraid of being labeled, do not give people a pass, and call them out on it.
We will never all believe in the same things, we will never all agree on every issue, but we can at least be respectful towards each other, if you do not believe as I do, great, so be it, that is a freedom I have supported since I was 17, but do not make the mistake of thinking it is alright to disrespect me, or my ideas, just because you think otherwise. I May not turn the other cheek.
