We the People

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Amendment I

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.

It is a beautiful day here on Lopez Island. This morning I walked through soft light powdery snow down to the willow tree with Jay. Every small branch of deciduous and conifer alike were dressed in snow. Three Flickers, a bird I rarely see and that are very rare and special, flew over us. The sight was peaceful and lovely. Now, the sun is out and gradually melting the soft water crystals that have covered everything. The Flickers came and visited me in my back yard, one landing in the young oak tree that lives inside the fence. As they flit around, I could see their bright orange feathers from underneath. Truly a rare and sacred spectacle.

I want to talk about the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States in the Bill of Rights. I often have been nervous about offending someone with my poetry, where I often explore my psychosis and visions/fantasies that I have experienced when I am unwell. But still, there is something we call “Poetic License”, and I am free to explore triggering and potentially offensive material in my writing. Our country has been in the business of banning books as of recent, and this is a direct violation of the First Amendment. It is a violation of the separation of Church and State, a primary principle of this amazing country, and the foundation from which our rights and laws stem. Imposing your religious views into politics, is essentially, a terrible sin. Violating our right for freedom of speech is also breaking the law. “Laws” are being created that literally break the law. I am allowed to write and read whatever my free American heart desires. Limiting the Freedom of Speech is simply an attempt to oppress the meek, the poor, the disabled, and the less advantaged.

Funding the police to defend the rich, is but another violation of the Constitution and our foundational law. Freedom of speech, the press, and the right to peaceably assemble is our birthright as we pursue happiness as Americans. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” further enforces that religious people should not be limiting the press or banning books. Denying queer, black, or any minority literature is a violation of the First Amendment. Religious people may address the final partial sentence in this amendment “, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” However any law maker, judge or lawyer will tell you, you cannot disavow the beginning of this sacred amendment, or erase any part of this amendment, because you think, or rather your personal religious grievance is that some or any literature for that matter is offensive. This later statement in the amendment means: asking the government to fix a problem or change a policy. So, that’s swell that you do not want gay or queer literature in your school, however, your grievance does not erase my freedom of speech or press.

I am free, you are free, to say and therefore feel what you want and desire as a member of this democracy. Limiting our right to free speech and the press, affects what we are able to feel and believe, and this is a deeply personal matter that effects us emotionally, mentally, spiritually and physically. It is healthy for me to speak my mind, unabridged, as it is your right to pursue your happiness and to speak yours. Our government and our democracy was put into place to defend, respect, and uphold [the] We the People of the United States of America. Banning books, buying out the Press, and stacking algorithms on social media with bots or other code, defies our democracy and puts us all in danger. If anything, we must agree on this. I am allowed to speak my mind and you yours. If you want to pull your children out of public schools because your religious beliefs are being challenged there, that is your right, to homeschool and practice your religious freedoms there, at home. You are NOT ALLOWED to change the Constitution of the United States of America by banning literature in a government run institution. And please, if you are devout, don’t change the rules, so that the poor, the neglected, the diverse, the challenged, and the meek are not given the basic right and need for a free education. You don’t get to take that away from our most needy children. If your religion is telling you this is okay, I seriously recommend looking into the idea that you are part of a Cult, and not a God fearing and respectable Religion.