Free Religion and Free Speech
- There is no fundamental right not to be offended (people should be courteous, but that is a moral issue not a legal issue)
- Free speech and free religion are essential and must be protected
- We need an education about what free speech means and does not mean. Free speech is not a right to prevent others from acting or speaking, merely because their speech or action may be offensive. The right to offend remains intact. However, freedom of speech also does not mean freedom from consequences. Nor does it mean the right to an audience; in other words no particular person or group must provide the forum to speak. The speaker sometimes must find his or her own forum.
- In the political field, the speaker must take on responsibility for his or her speech. It seems common today for people to refer to another as a "Nazi." It is time to hold those speakers accountable for such statements and not allow them to trivialize the atrocities against humanity in Nazi Germany because another disagrees with them on a political issue. They have the freedom to speak, but we have the right to hold them responsible for such statements.
- Atheism is treated as a religion; therefore atheists may not be advantaged by government.
- Voluntary prayer and use of the word God in a public forum or by a public official is a permitted exercise of religion, even if the person is representing the government; however, government endorsement of religion (including atheism) is not permitted. State mottos and the Pledge of Allegiance may include the word "God."
- Children under age 18 must be protected from obscene materials; religious institutions should address the moral impact of pornography on adults. Social agencies should provide programs to help those "trapped" in the pornography industry escape.
- We must balance and beware of media indecency standards; we want to protect our young people, but must preserve free speech. The tables can easily be turned to restrict other "offensive" material which may be religious or political in nature
- We must be careful that political correctness does not chill free speech. Colleges should adopt new policies protecting free speech, free religion and free debate of issues; such policies would acknowledge that the freedom of speech is a greater right than the right to be free from being offended. College campuses must protect the freedom of all to speak - even those with unpopular or offensive views. It's time for our college students and professors to grow-up and enter the real world (a world in which they may be offended). Failure to allow free speech results in loss of a university's (and its students') eligibility for federal programs
- Christmas is re-defined as a religious not secular holiday (i.e. 3rd Sunday of December); this will preserve the religious meaning and prevent the secular dilution of a religious holiday. If we want a secular holiday, it can be the Monday after Christmas Sunday.
- Political candidates (and their adult family members) must understand that the media and/or other candidates will not always phrase things to their liking; let's stop forcing apologies and job losses for media "slips" and allow the free flow of ideas in our political process. Politicians are automatically public figures and speech by and about them must be protected.
Goals: Respect one another and allow for ideas
Reasons: We need to balance the rights of all; but if free speech is thwarted then we are in danger of losing our freedom. The edge on today's political climate has us looking for opportunities to take innocent statements and blow them out of proportion. This has a chilling effect on thought, debate and progress.
"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." -Thomas Jefferson
"He who knows only his side of the case, knows little of that." -John Stuart Mill
"The only way to make sure people you agree with can speak is to support the rights of people you don't agree with." -Eleanor Holmes Norton