Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
IF you don't understand what you are talking about....
Don't post about for all the world to see, and for God's sake don't post a Facebook Poll about it!
There is a facebook poll asking if you've read the ENTIRE US Constitution in the last ten years. And the three choices are "Yes,I know the 1st ammendment refers to Congress, not me!", "No, I can say anything I damned well please", and "Isn't that the same thing as the Declaration of Independence.
One of the CDN guys I know has posted "and I am not even American......" and he voted "Yes,I know the 1st ammendment refers to Congress, not me!", "No, I can say anything I damned well please"
My response to him was "X - the Amendment you refer to is part of the bill of rights. The part of the Constitution that protects the rights of the people from the Government. It essentially says that Congress can not take away the right to freedom of speech from the people of the US. It protects us from government censorship, along with several other things. Rather than limiting citizens rights - it limits the "rights" of the government. The way in which it pertains to congress is that it limits what congress can do. Folks can indeed say what they want - as long as they are willing to pay the social consequences of what they say."
There was so much more I wanted to say But couldn't there.
So I am going to try and respond here - for my own sanity.
This is one of the most powerful laws in our Country, not only does it tell the government that it can not stop folks from saying what they want - even if it's critical of the goverment, it also tells the government that it can not establish a state religion, can not stop folks from peaceable assembly - in other words if it's not a riot, treasonous, or inciting a riot, it's the people's right to do so, and it tells the government it is not absolute- that if the people don't like it, they can tell the government so and that the government IS accountable to the people. That's what "redress of grievances" is. We have the right to petition the governement to fix wrongs with out fear of governmental reprisals.
And we have several ways to do this, voting, law suits against the governements, contacting our Congressional representatives, ect, ect. This last bit the "right to petiontion the government" is one of the most forgotten, yet most powerful rights we have. In fact on it - almost every other Civil Right rests.
There is a facebook poll asking if you've read the ENTIRE US Constitution in the last ten years. And the three choices are "Yes,I know the 1st ammendment refers to Congress, not me!", "No, I can say anything I damned well please", and "Isn't that the same thing as the Declaration of Independence.
One of the CDN guys I know has posted "and I am not even American......" and he voted "Yes,I know the 1st ammendment refers to Congress, not me!", "No, I can say anything I damned well please"
My response to him was "X - the Amendment you refer to is part of the bill of rights. The part of the Constitution that protects the rights of the people from the Government. It essentially says that Congress can not take away the right to freedom of speech from the people of the US. It protects us from government censorship, along with several other things. Rather than limiting citizens rights - it limits the "rights" of the government. The way in which it pertains to congress is that it limits what congress can do. Folks can indeed say what they want - as long as they are willing to pay the social consequences of what they say."
There was so much more I wanted to say But couldn't there.
So I am going to try and respond here - for my own sanity.
This is one of the most powerful laws in our Country, not only does it tell the government that it can not stop folks from saying what they want - even if it's critical of the goverment, it also tells the government that it can not establish a state religion, can not stop folks from peaceable assembly - in other words if it's not a riot, treasonous, or inciting a riot, it's the people's right to do so, and it tells the government it is not absolute- that if the people don't like it, they can tell the government so and that the government IS accountable to the people. That's what "redress of grievances" is. We have the right to petition the governement to fix wrongs with out fear of governmental reprisals.
And we have several ways to do this, voting, law suits against the governements, contacting our Congressional representatives, ect, ect. This last bit the "right to petiontion the government" is one of the most forgotten, yet most powerful rights we have. In fact on it - almost every other Civil Right rests.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
My "road trip" today.
Engine No. 18 in Arcade, NY. Part of the Arcade and Attica Railroad. It's a "tourist attraction" in Arcade, NY - about 30-45 minutes out of Buffalo. I am not sure how many tourist types go on it, but we locals have fond memories of riding it as children - I want to go again as an adult. Why should the kiddies have all the fun?
Honestly - I think if I got the chance I would drive the engineer batty with questions. I love trains, love, love, love them. And I have so many questions about them - old and new. I could spend a lifetime learning about them - and still not have enough info. I want to buy a house near a railroad. The sound of trains rolling by is so soothing to me. The closer to them - the better. Especially at night. I can fall asleep so much easier listening to them.
But anyhow- the trip to Arcade today was kind of spontaneous. Trish wanted wild flowers, I wanted out of the city so away we went. I was aiming for Warsaw but we ended up checking out the railroad instead. It was so nice to smell FRESH air rather than the city air we normally smell, as Trish lives in the innercity and the air there just does not smell the same. And small towns have a totally different "feel" than the city as we all know. It was so nice to walk into shops and be greeted pleasantly rather than ignored. And the roadside fruit and veggie stands were great!
We got farm fresh peaches and one place had tomatoes by the bushel. I want to go back get some so Trish and I can can some. I'll bet they'll taste great in soups and stews this winter if we do. I can't wait for it to cool off enough to make soup again!
I enjoyed myself so much today. I can't wait to do the small town trip again. Where ever it takes us.
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