Beleaguered Bill of Rights

When I lived in the USA, the one thing that I loved about the country was that, no matter how much you disagreed with an opinion, it could be discussed. People accepted the fact that this also brought some pretty tasteless opinions into play but in general Voltaire ruled:

“I may completely disagree with your opinion but I will defend to the death your right to express it.”

Brave words from a brave man in a time when the wrong opinion could get you beheaded (a practice still honored in some societies).

Also, words that in general have ruled the social fabric of the United States, if only because the enable commerce. I remember getting a hearty ‘F***k you’ in New York but after that we could still do business and I got my coffee as ordered.

The Occupy movement has made clear that these times may need rekindling. We have seen earlier that important parts of the 1^st amendment are under pressure.

With the increased fear that has been brought into national security since 9/11 we also see other items on the Bill of Rights being negated (for the common good”):

·         1st Amendment: we already looked at the right of assembly. Now we see further plans to negate freedom of speech/press (I consider platforms like Twitter, FaceBook, MySpace, etc as such), aka New Internet Blacklist Bill.

·         4^th Amendment: Protection from unreasonable search and seizure. As a traveler I am confronted with procedures that vary wildly from airport to airport, are extremely effective at removing toothpaste from my luggage and are demeaning to say the least. On top of that, these measures are ineffective with respect to airport safety. They do however infringe upon my personal freedom while trying to intimidate travelers.

Remark: I tip my hat to the woman reciting the fourth amendment while being intimidated. I am not sure if I would have had the same guts in similar circumstances. And it goes to show that the real heroes tend to be ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Question: if such rights are removed without approval from the people, then what difference is there between the United States and Iran?

Would Iran then not be a better vacation destination as it tends to have less crime, and religious freedom is comparable to the USA plus they have less hurricanes?

Mind you (if you have not read properly): I am not advocating Iran (though it is a sovereign state) or what happens there at this moment. They go through their own growth process. But I do question that USA claim to leadership of the free world when such basic (namely also Universal Human Rights underwritten by USA) rights are infringed upon.

It’s easy for me, I am looking from the outside in. But it’s your home.

This is why I do see light as people from both sides are now working to find common ground. And this is where I hope people will keep the faith!