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| Yes | 91% | 545 votes | Total: 598 votes | |
| No | 9% | 53 votes |
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Add to FavoritesFor those of us who don't remember, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads as follows:
Amendment I
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.
Freedom of Speech is guaranteed to all Americans regardless of their belief in or disbelief in the Christian religion. We, as a people, need to remember that the freedoms we have in this country came in large part because of the earliest colonists to inhabit our shores. The vast majority of these people came to the New World in order to escape religious persecution and the inability to speak their minds freely.
Unlike most other nations on Earth, the United States does not have a State sponsored religion, nor are people arbitraily thrown in jail for speaking out against the government. In fact, our Constitution, which was written over 200 years ago, precludes those type of laws being passed. If we were to ban Freedom of Speech for Christian broadcasters, then we open up the floodgates for a whole series of oppressive laws to be enacted. How many millions of people watch the "Jerry Springer Show", listen to "Gangster Rap", play video games where you get points for running over innocent people in the street or any number of other activities which are currently legal. Take away Freedom of Speech for any group of broadcasters and you open the doors for any of the above activities and many others to suddenly became illegal.
Our Founding Fathers fought and won the Revoluntionary War to keep oppressive laws from being forced on us by any government. When setting up our current form of government and writing the Constitution; they thought it important enough to list certain basic rights. Among those are the ones mentioned in the first Amendment. They wanted to insure every individual the right to worship or not worship as they chose. I daresay you won't find that right guaranteed in any Muslim Nation, or in any of the remaining Communists Nations.
Do some Christian broadcasters take advantage of this freedom? I'm sure they do; but no more so than some of the secular broadcasters. In all probability, you can find someone who takes offense at anything spoken on radio and television and/or anything published in any magazine or newspaper. But, as long as they are not encouraging people to riot, participate in armed revolt against the government, perform seditious or treasonous acts, or participate in any other criminal activity, then they have the right to say what they please. If we, the public, take offense at anything that is said or written, we have the right to change stations or quit reading that publication. And if it is a politican saying or writing things that are offense to us, we always have the right to vote against them in the next election.
"Freedom of Speech" is a precious and valuable commodity. Once that is taken away from any group of US citizens, we all are in danger of losing that gift granted us in the Constitution. And any freedom, once lost, is doubly hard to get back, if its possible at all. Countless men and women have given their lives over the past 200 plus years to guarantee that we continue to enjoy the freedoms we have as citizens. Let's not dicuss limiting "Freedom of Speech" for any group when we have the option of switching the dial, or refusing to read what someone has said or written.
Learn more about this author, Arthur Gibson.
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No
Does an already born baby have a right to life? I am disturbed this is something that even needs debating. Of course, Christian broadcasters and those of all other religions should have a freedom of speech just like any other American Citizen. While I will admit there are religious fanatics out there who tend to act outrageously and will sensationalize things that don't need to be sensationalized, does not mean they don't have a right to free speech.
One of the great things about living in a democratic society is that EVERYONE gets to speak their mind regardless of what their views are on any issue. Everyone means all people whether you agree with them or not. That is as long as it is being done within a reasonable manner. Obviously you wouldn't throw a protest in the middle of Times Square during rush hour traffic that isn't organized with the city of New York City. That would create extreme chaos and would also probably lead to some people going to jail for disturbing the peace.
If there are programs both in TV and/or radio which some people think are hypocritical then quite simply they don't have to watch. In a matter of fact, with most TV providers nowadays you can even block certain channels if you do not like them. Besides if ratings are low enough the station broadcasting the program in question will stop broadcasting that particular show anyways. Same thing with radio broadcasts. The reality of broadcast is that ratings and ad sales essentially drive everything just like profits, subscribers and advertisers drive the print industry.
In the bible it specifically states that we are supposed to evangelize to our fellow man and woman and make fishers of men. That is impossible if Christians can't have freedom of speech about their religion, whether it be in the broadcasting industry or elsewhere. After all, if it weren't for Christians America wouldn't exist. Shouldn't that alone be enough to allow freedom of speech for the broadcasting business. That is the whole reason we ended up coming over here to get our freedom, so we could have freedom of religion.
To have people being denied using their freedom of speech to express that 200 plus years later is at best disturbing. However, I will admit there are some problems with some Christian broadcasts because some of it appears fake. The other thing someone can do if they can not stand a station is to file a complaint with their cable or satellite provider who can forward it. If a TV provider finds out enough of their customers do not like the programming they will stop broadcasting it. However, in the very message of the bible it states that we are to accept and love ALL people regardless of whether or not we agree with their message. So let's start acting like it and accept all people no matter who they act. We don't have to agree with it. Just accept it.
Learn more about this author, Erich Heinlein.
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