Posted by
Frigglesnitz on Saturday, March 15, 2008 4:49:49 PM
Who was not appalled at the excerpts from The "Reverend's" rantings?
Having been brought up in the south a few decades ago, my built-in prejudice was a given. After having moved to the great State of Illinois at the age of 17, I was prepared to be surrounded by people who were my exact opposite, that is, unprejudiced. That bit of nonsense was built in as well. It was a jolt to find that the only difference between the north and the south was that the south was much more bearable in winter.
I lived through the Civil Rights Movement. I lived through the Women's Lib Movement. I lived through bra-burning. I lived through flag-burning. I lived through book-burning.
My goal through all of these movements and burnings and such was to change myself. Not simply by years, which will indeed change one whether or not one is ready for some of its indignities.
Slowly I began to see that black people were people. Slowly I began to see that, taken as a whole, women were given the "short end of the stick." Notice that I said "were given." However, I began to see, slowly, that women had a right to choose -- that not all things must be chosen for them.
There were changes I would not participate in. I would not burn my bra. They cost too much, for one thing. I might need them in the future, for another.
I would not burn my flag, to which I have pledged allegiance and to which I will continue to pledge allegiance as long as I live.
I would not burn a book -- even one I considered to have no value. Why? Because the person or persons who wrote that book had a right to write the book and have it published if possible. It was considered by me to be an expression of "free speech." The right of expression in a book was a right I did not take lightly. I had heard of book-burnings and was simply appalled.
Why do these rights exist? The right to march in an expression of solidarity with one's race? The right to march in an expression of solidarity with others of the same gender? The right to burn my flag? The right to burn books? The right to spew hatred from street corners and pulpits?
These rights exist because my country and many of its finest fought and died for them. I have these rights because my country and many of its finest are fighting and dying for them. I have these rights because there was a Declaration of Independence. I have these rights because my country's flag still flies proudly from buildings and homes across this land. I have these rights because in that Declaration are the words that we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
I do not need to agree with those who spew hatred and damn America from street corners or pulpits. I have a right, God-given and country-given, not to agree.
I have a right to say that I believe some pulpits are props for those I may name "Reverend Wrong" and anyone who would damn my country. I have a right to say that anyone who follows such putrid hatefulness and rage has no right to govern me or my country.