Principle - Freedom of the press, religion, and the right of lawful assembly cannot be removed if a nation is to remain prosperous and free.
Across the nation, citizens are eager to assemble and discuss recently enacted federal laws and pending policies that are destined to have major impact upon the lives of average Americans. Members of Congress are leaving Washington and heading home to the states and districts from which they were elected. Town hall meetings are being called. Citizens are congregating. Ideologies are conflicting. Questions are covering the gamut from agenda-free inquiry to acrid-laden accusations.
At these town hall meetings, people are gathering in large numbers. On the perceived basis of violated rights, citizens are questioning ideologically-spawned policies through the constitutionally-protected privilege to challenge their government. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides the platform for lawful assembly and the free exercise and expression of beliefs, whether they are religious, personal, or political. Whether or not the majority of the legislative body is liberal or conservative is not taken into consideration within the verbiage of the First Amendment. The government may make no law prohibiting this right and must be willing to receive the grievances of the people and make amends if the constitutional liberties of the people are violated.
Pundits and the policy makers from the far right and the far left are each attempting to solve the ills of society, procure a brighter future for the disenfranchised, and insure that America remains a viable world leader. Citizens have a right and duty to assemble and speak if the noble goals and ideological solutions of the legislative body have infringed upon the rights, liberties, and voice of the people. The government has a constitutional obligation to listen and respond.
The tug of war between the ideologies of the far right and the far left will continue long after the town hall meetings end. Therefore, what can be gained in these convocations? The answer: efficacy of the First Amendment. The wisdom of the framers of our great nation ensured that the people should have the voice and the government should have the ear. Constitutional wisdom dictates that our congressmen listen to the grievances and protect the liberties of the citizens.
Principle: Freedom of the press, religion, and the right of lawful assembly cannot be removed if a nation is to remain prosperous and free.
For more information on the author, Dr. Patti Amsden, go to: www.pattiamsden.org
Gordon Elder-Groebe
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Accountant Great article. It inspires me to get out to hear Senator Barbara Boxer here in my area, even though I usually strongly disagree with her positions. |
Linda Cline
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History Teacher, Wife & Mother The concerning thing is how orchestrated these 'town hall' meetings seem. For example there was a teleconference town hall meeting for the Representative in our area. Noble effort but the format seemed to prevent a true open forum. With technological 'advancement' [I am sure the framers of the First Amendment never envisioned the right of lawful assemble to be orchestrated via telephone or the internet] the principle stated above seems to have the opportunity to be compromised. |
