Our Core Values Addressed

Members of The Rowlett Texas TEA Party are going to undertake a project where we closely examine our Core Values and what they mean in definition, and to us as individuals.

Our Core Values being:
1. Uphold the U.S. Constitution
2. Limited Government
3. Fiscal Responsibility
4. Free Markets

Our members have highly diversified backgrounds and fields of expertise. I will be working on our number 1 Core Value, Uphold the U.S. Constitution.

I will personally address the 1st and 2nd amendments. These are amendments that I am most familiar with and have very strong feelings about, more so than other amendments. I will likely address other areas of the U.S. Constitution, but for now, the 1st and 2nd will be my focus.

I will be working with our Secretary, Gay DeHoff and TEA Party member Babs Millward on this project and I am sure that both of these ladies will present interesting and in-depth perspectives and interpretations concerning the U.S. Constitution.

I have to say, I am a firm believer that the Constitution doesn’t GIVE us ANY rights. Our rights come from a much higher authority. The Constitution simply enumerates and expresses those rights in words.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

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.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

The founders of this nation formed the United States after escaping the tyranny of English rule and freedom OF religion was their most important thought apparently. Otherwise, this would not be the 1st sentence of the 1st amendment.

Americans are FREE to worship as they see fit. The government can’t tell us that we must worship in The Church of the U.S.A. as did the English when they forced British subjects to attend the Church of England.

Our founding fathers recognized, and expected men and woman to worship freely, in their own manner, or in a way prescribed by the church that they choose to attend. And attend of their own free will.

I also believe that the 1st amendment not only states that we shall have freedom OF religion, but also freedom FROM religion. No one shall be allowed to force their religious beliefs on the American people. No one shall be be allowed to dictate that an American be a member of ANY religious group or church.

Many Americans are not Christians, many are agnostic, some are atheists. They ALL have that right, the freedom to live their spiritual life in a method that fits them, not the hierarchy of the government.

or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press

The above is easily one of the most misunderstood lines in the bill of rights.

Freedom of speech. As a citizen, I have the right to freedom of speech. I can speak my mind freely, without fear of persecution, regarding ALL matters.

But I also have certain responsibilities as well.

Freedom of speech does NOT give anyone the right to scream FIRE in a crowded venue. It does not give you the right to lie, slander, defame, depreciate, dishonor or disparage without fear of consequences. Freedom of speech brings with it, certain responsibilities.

As a blogger, as a writer, I have freedom of speech on MY site. I also have a responsibility to present the truth, as well as my opinion. My blog is MY platform. I can freely state my opinion and do so without fear of loss of personal freedom for doing so, as long as I don’t engage in acts of slander, lying, defamation and so forth. If I do, there may be civil consequences.

Here is what so many don’t understand about freedom of speech, and also, this is where we tie in freedom of the press.

As a site owner, I am guaranteed freedom of speech, on MY site, as is any other blogger or member of the press. I also have a responsibility to engage in journalistic integrity. That falls back to the lying, slander and defamation I mentioned above.

This is the part that seems to be terribly misunderstood by many: YOU do NOT have a right to freedom of speech on MY site, or that of any other blogger, writer, newspaper or any other published writing. The writer and site owner is guaranteed free speech, a comment maker is NOT! Your free speech in print is limited to YOUR privately owned site.

I have had several instances where I deleted the screeds of liberal trolls. They of course scream bloody murder about the violation of THEIR 1st amendment rights, but they simply don’t understand how the 1st amendment actually works, and how it applies in regards to The Press.

Finally, we come to this:

the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

There is, honestly, not too much I can say here. The clarity of the above statement should be more than apparent to all in my opinion.

The only thing I can say is this, yes, we DO have the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. It has, sadly, been a long time since the government listened.

In my next installment I will address the 2nd amendment of the U.S. Constitution. I hope you will read these essays presented by The Rowlett Texas TEA Party. I hope we can make our point to the American people and explain where we stand on American issues!

Cross Posted at:
The Rowlett TEA Party: Rowlett Party News