Just as televised news brought the Vietnam War into the living rooms of America, social media has brought the struggle of the world's freedom fighters before my eyes and into my heart. I ache for my global village neighbors whose voice is censored, whose worship is dictated, whose children die in the streets for the type of freedom Americans take for granted.
On this 235th anniversary of the day America declared its independence, I'm grateful for the First Amendment, which guarantees me and all of the people (note in text below, the choice of the word "people" rather than "citizens") the freedom to publish this blog, to worship (or not) the God of my choice, to reach out to my governmental leaders with my concerns.
We've come so far since this was written, and we have far yet to go, but this First Amendment to our Bill of Rights gives us the freedom to seek the changes we believe are important to a strong and compassionate co-existence.
"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."
