Freedom of ?

I know that everyone always says that two things you don't talk about for fear of what will happen are politics and religion. I think that the results of a good or bad conversation about either of the two is exactly what our forefathers intended to create with the first amendment.

"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 time in which our forefathers gathered to create our constitution is a lot like today...Believe it or not, while creating the greatest government ever, there were vastly differing opinions. Much like the society that we live in today, these men gathered and knew that government was necessary yet they all had different avenues to get to the final result. One thing that is apparent in the first amendment in particular is the fact that conversation is a GOOD thing. We aren't all supposed to think the same way. We aren't all supposed to agree all of the time. In fact, the very freedom of speech that was protected was not so that boisterous people can get their way and not be ridiculed, yet so that an open discussion could be held without persecution.

People who stand behind the idea that MY opinion is the only way. And MY way of doing things is the only correct way and hide behind this amendment are fundamentally wrong in their thinking. This country has risen to be the most powerful nation in the world because of open, intelligent discussions between people who hardly agree at all. Yet one thing is true of all of us....we believe it is our RIGHT to HAVE these discussions.

In some parts of the world, the mere mentioning of something that is different from someone else is punishable by law.

If our law makers today would sit back and think about this concept, maybe we(the US taxpayer) wouldn't be paying a salary to people who ABSOLUTELY, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES would even listen to each other's side of the story.

It's gone far beyond just politics though. It's become a part of our ever day life to ignore other people's views because of the idea that we are the only ones who could be right. Sometimes in life there isn't a definite right and wrong way of accomplishing things. As long as we are heading the same direction and have our eyes set on the one and only absolute truth in this world which is the teachings and moral standards of Jesus Christ we should be able to have these conversations without feeling discriminated against.

Our freedom of speech DOES NOT give us the right to say whatever we want to without scrutiny from others which creates dialog. ALL it protects us from is being criminally persecuted because of our words.

What are your thoughts? I want to know. We all should want to know. Lets have a discussion. I, personally, LOVE nothing more than to have educated discussions with people, even and especially when it is a belief or idea that is the opposite of what I hold. It gives me the opportunity to understand things from ALL points of view. It gives me the opportunity to decide for myself and educate myself on other ideas if I so choose. It gives me the feeling of a TRUE AMERICAN! Politics and religion (and nothing else) for that matter scares me to talk about with anyone. I'm not afraid.

God bless you all! Please comment!