Isn't there freedom of religion in America?
So why on Earth do we keep trying to shove our beliefs down each other's throats when we are free to believe in whatever we want in this country?
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CopperCicada · M
Because we're assholes.
We take our first amendment freedom of speech to mean the right to say anything we want anywhere we want-- with no consequences. And we take the free assembly clause as the right to force religion on anyone we want in any context.
All because of freedom. Or some idea of it.
Used to be we actually understood 1A to apply to restrictions enacted by Congress or bodies empowered by Congress. And not be assholes.
We take our first amendment freedom of speech to mean the right to say anything we want anywhere we want-- with no consequences. And we take the free assembly clause as the right to force religion on anyone we want in any context.
All because of freedom. Or some idea of it.
Used to be we actually understood 1A to apply to restrictions enacted by Congress or bodies empowered by Congress. And not be assholes.
CopperCicada · M
CopperCicada · M
@GunSmoke9 When and where I came up, almost everyone was part of a faith community. But nobody got in anyone's face about it. A lot of people from Euro-trash immigrant families, like mine. You could get a good guess sometimes from surnames. Or from religious hardware. Cross-- not a Catholic of any kind. Crucifix-- Catholic, maybe the rite is ambiguous. Kippah-- that's obvious. Or you could tell from what holidays and rituals people did. Or when they did them. Oh, you're doing Christmas later, must be Orthodox. Ashes-- Catholic. And so on. But nobody got in anyone's face. Nobody sent up flares. Nobody fought with anyone, tried to get into religious arguments, tried to convert random people or people in their closest circle.
Now I'm in a different time and place, and it's bizarre to me. People flat out asking me my religion. Asking if I'm saved. I'm not talking friends. I'm talking coworkers, students, customers. People making public comments and commentaries about my faith. I'm not talking about in a church or temple. I'm talking about at work, school. Getting approached, while minding my own business, sitting in a cafe. Getting approached in the Books A Million religion section. My house pamphleted. Getting my car pamphleted if a park near a church. Having a pastor of a church I went to showing up at my house. Missionaries showing up at my house until I drive them off.
Sure. That's all protected speech. And sure that's their expression of their faith. But that's also being an asshole.
Now I'm in a different time and place, and it's bizarre to me. People flat out asking me my religion. Asking if I'm saved. I'm not talking friends. I'm talking coworkers, students, customers. People making public comments and commentaries about my faith. I'm not talking about in a church or temple. I'm talking about at work, school. Getting approached, while minding my own business, sitting in a cafe. Getting approached in the Books A Million religion section. My house pamphleted. Getting my car pamphleted if a park near a church. Having a pastor of a church I went to showing up at my house. Missionaries showing up at my house until I drive them off.
Sure. That's all protected speech. And sure that's their expression of their faith. But that's also being an asshole.
CopperCicada · M
@GunSmoke9 No. The 1A doesn't protect one from assholes.
Manners is what protects one from assholes, but for some reason we've decided "freedom of speech" means one can drop all manners and say and do whatever one wishes.
I've never argued for 1A restrictions. I've argued for manners and basic decency.
Manners is what protects one from assholes, but for some reason we've decided "freedom of speech" means one can drop all manners and say and do whatever one wishes.
I've never argued for 1A restrictions. I've argued for manners and basic decency.