I've been MIA for a few months... Okay, more than a few! I wanted to get on here and share a thought about Independence Day.
A lot is said about the 1st and 2nd amendments of the Constitution of the United States. Usually, you'll hear something like the following, depending on your political view:
"The 1st amendment gives me the right to say whatever I want!" (freedom of speech)
"The 1st amendment isn't possible without the 2nd to protect it!" (right to bear arms)
When looking at the Constitution, it seems that we've misunderstood what the Founding Fathers had in mind. Since I used both the 1st and 2nd amendments in my example, I'll post them here.
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."
The second amendment states:
" A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Before I continue, as I would like to focus a bit on the 1st amendment, let me just say that the 2nd amendment is pretty straight-forward. I believe it is the God-given right of every person to protect themselves, their property, and others, from harm inflicted by another person or entity. I also believe that the "free State" the Founders were referring to is not the federal or state government with all the laws and regulations to "keep us in line", but to that State in which a moral people are, for the most part, self-governing within God's law. God's law being what Jesus taught, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ...And... 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'..." (Matt. 22:37-40)
The following excerpt is from https://onlinecoursesblog.hillsdale.edu/our-constitution-was-made-only-for-a-moral-and-religious-people/
"On October 11, 1798, John Adams wrote to the Massachusetts Militia that
Because We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition, Revenge or Gallantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."
This quote from John Adams seems to address both the first and second amendments by its being written to the Massachusetts Militia and mentioning a religious people. How does this address the first amendment? "Isn't the first amendment about freedom of speech?" Yes... and no. Let me explain.
The "freedom of speech" that everyone so vehemently defends is not the "right" to use profanity. It is the right of the people to voice their concerns about the government, and to speak freely of their religion, without the fear of persecution.
More importantly, the first amendment begins with, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" This is the basis of our country! A place of religious freedom! The Pilgrims sought a place in which to worship God as they understood, without the government telling them they were wrong... or worse. This is the first amendment. This was deemed more important than any other amendment to the Constitution. This is what we defend. Without God, there is no morality and the people become ungovernable.
Happy Independence Day!
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