Support the First Amendment with 1 for All
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.
Born and raised on the Texas Gulf Coast, I’ve spent the past few months trying to wrap my head around the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent massive oil spill that is now ruining the coastline from Louisiana to Florida. At times, I have to turn off the news, as the images of dying wildlife hit me deep in my gut.
But now more than ever, this national tragedy has made me grateful for the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. While the oil continues to spew, the media — WordPress.com bloggers included — have been on the frontlines, making sure that Americans and everyone the world over know what is really happening in the Gulf of Mexico.
The oil spill has also made me realize how fragile this freedom is — as the Associated Press reported, “journalists covering the Gulf of Mexico oil spill have been yelled at, kicked off public beaches and islands and threatened with arrest …”
Which is why I’m happy to announce that WordPress.com is a proud supporter of the 1 for All campaign that launches today with the simple goal of raising awareness about the First Amendment. We join more than 1,000 media outlets who have partnered with 1 for All, and we have a special connection to the project — their site is hosted on WordPress.com.
Any U.S. resident is welcome to enter their “How Free Can You Be?” contest by submitting photos, videos and stories that illustrate First Amendment liberties. Back here on WordPress.com, please tag any posts you write about this topic with “First Amendment.” And since we know many of you don’t live in the United States, we welcome all readers — regardless of where you live — to discuss civil liberties in your country, as well. Please tag those posts with “human rights.”
- July 1, 2010
- WordPress.com
WordPress.com News 
Kudos, WordPress. Watching Anderson Cooper on CNN as he tries to get information and pictures on the Gulf has been very discouraging. It’s as if the booms have cordoned off the press. The press has been choked off there. Let’s wake the government up. Thanks for all you are doing.
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It’s been my experience here on wordpress, that if somebody doesn’t like your opinion, they can get you shut down by reporting you comments as spam!
Right wingers seem to love doing this.
Go figure
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Good 4 WP. Now we must practice what we preach…
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Fire!
Oops, did I say that out loud?
Honestly though, three cheers for the first! It’s the most, to say the least.
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This is an awesome initiative. We as citizens of our modern world have to fight for these rights, we can’t just accept anyone take them away. It doesn’t matter from where we are, we have to be aware of our rights. If we start not to care anymore, where would our world end? I think, this is a great chance to give everyone (back) his or her voice. Keep it up, supporting actions like this!
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I gave my opinion on HR 5175 this past week. We need to keep the pressure going.
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Bravo! WordPress!
As “simple” and perhaps “Insignificant” as one person’s Post may be, when we unite and we ALL speak up, Nothing and No One can stop us!
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Great Idea! Count me in!
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WordPress has probably done more to empower individuals to exercise their freedom of speech than any other service out there. They have inspired new journalists, empowered those without a voice, and given millions of people the ability to have their say in even the most repressive environments. Thank you, WordPress for standing up for our freedom.
Anthony Papillion
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And Privacy rights must also be preserved.
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We need more voices expressing their opinion. the first amendment works best when gatekeepers leave the gates open.
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On this Independence Day weeked we should all be grateful for those who fought to create this great country, and those who have fought to protect our constitutional rights. Particularly while we are watching news of hearings on a new supreme court justice we should all be mindful of how precious our rights are.
A friend who spent the first years of his life in 1960’s Cuba is a constant reminder to me of how precious they are. Thanks WordPress for 1 for All and the ability to publish our opinions, thoughts and feelings on a daily basis with no cost.
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Bravo, especially with the latest censorship of the BP Gulf Spill, this is perfect timing to organize and support the 1st Amendment!
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United we Stand Divided we Fall !!!!
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great! I will participate! and get my students to also!
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I love and appreciate all of the rights I have and exercise them regularly. However, the US Congress is looking at the “Fair Speech Doctrine” which will limit free speech. Take a search for it. You wont be sorry.
In the mean time, Happy Independence Day America!
And keep up the good work WordPress!!!
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Not that there is anything you or I can do about the oil spewing in the Gulf, the government’s response to hurricane Katrina or the economic crisis to name a few of America’s signs of decline,( because biblically, our demise is etched in stone) but I wonder why we aren’t as pro active as we were in the sixties when we fought side by side to win civil rights for all? Blogging is all well and good but it’s not enough to fight these sell outs in the government. If we aren’t willing to get off our rusty dusties, get out from behind the usernames and take to the streets to be heard and counted, you deserve what you get.
Why would anyone want to fight off the press from reporting on the insanity or collusion in the Gulf? Oil drifting to Florida and beyond isn’t all we have to worry about. Dead animals in the Gulf, decaying animals, who will spread disease during the hurricane season is a potential disaster I haven’t heard one scientist address.
We’ve watched our rights and civil liberties erode over the years and not a peep from anyone. Not even the press. Frankly I admire those PatriotsAct FOlks. At least they believe in SOMETHING.
Oh well.
Rina M
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Nice going, WordPress! I’m a US Citizen living in the Philippines!
When I was still living in the USA, I’ve witnessed people’s Freedom of Speech being taken away by law enforcement officials. A group of Americans held a sign that said the US President is a terrorist… They were arrested and put into jail.
Here in the Philippines, many people posted against their President and never get arrested or thrown in jail.
Also, when I was still living in the USA, I witnessed government agents peforming electronic surveilance at many Muslim places of gathering. I am not a Muslim, but when I had seen how the US government was taking away human rights, I figured, there is something wrong there. Worse yet, I had US government agents ask me what a Muslim security guard (at a Barnes & Noble bookstore) said to me as I was walking to my car. I said to my dad, “What happened to Human Rights?”
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And since we know many of you don’t live in the United States, we welcome all readers — regardless of where you live — to discuss civil liberties in your country, as well. Please tag those posts with “human rights.” –> Kudos for WordPress. That’s a good thing!
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Thank You,
WordPress we need to stand up for our rights……..thank you so much.
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I am really happy to hear that the press is following the situation in the Gulf so closely. It is imperative that the public be updated on events in the gulf and the sincere efforts to clean up the area.
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I support this to the hilt. I am not a citizen of the USA but freedom of speech is a universal right. If that ever goes then so does freedom.
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Bravo WordPress! All our rights are coming under fire. The very freedoms that make us Americans are being stripped away. Its time we stand up for what we believe!
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all for 1 and 1 for all…a classic message with a true meaning = unity
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Sometimes it seems like our basic freedoms and rights are really just straw freedoms and rights. We have to continuously battle for them and be vigilant about them. Thank you for spreading the word.
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Thanks for your support of the 1st Amendment. We all need to be more aware of the fragile nature of our rights. We need to speak up and help defend them. Thanks for the message and thanks to WordPress.
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Great idea – thanks for making a difference!!!
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Totally agree with last line
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This is wonderful! Awareness isn’t everything, but without it the first amendment is dead in the water (need i say which water?)
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Although the oil disaster is indeed a disaster, this post inspired me to take on the challenge of writing something about human rights. Sweden has a long tradition of free speech as well as something called “the right of common” – the right to walk freely in any area not fenced in (and practically nothing is fenced in except industrial areas and gardens). Still our politicians seem to desire silence on the net, taking on old SS tradition by spying on us and collecting information about our private lives – despite the fact that most Swedish citizens are in fact not criminals!
I’m making a call for the right of common – online as well as offline!
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Exercising the 1st amendment is why I started my blog. I support this whole-heartedly.
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Every FREEDOM guaranteed by that most Sacred of documents, the Bill of Rights, is important. We’ve pretty much kissed the 4th Amendment off by allowing Dubya to have the so-called Patriot Act passed and signed. Dubya even tried to revoke the 1st Amendment by trying to have Congress pass a bill that would have made publicly voicing a negative opinion of the president, especially during time of conflict,a federal offense, similar to sedition.
America needs to wake up. The great Ben Franklin once said:” He who gives up freedoms in order to gain security deserves neither.”
This president and Congress need to wake up to the evils that BP is perpetrating in the Gulf right now. Any help from outside sources needs to be welcomed, immediately. This isn’t a time for red tape. This oil spill is quickly becoming a global issue. It’s no longer something that BP and the Coast Guard can address alone. They need help and they need to realize this immediately.
Arise, America! Come this next election, let it be known that you won’t stand for business as usual in D.C. Don’t elect a career politician. Elect a relative nobody who hasn’t been tainted by big business, big oil or big money. Elect someone who will use YOUR voice in Congress, not that of some political action committee or lobbyist. Regain control of this once great land and help her rebirth to her once prominence on the world stage.
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“You have the rights antecendant to all earthly governments; rights that cannot be repealed or restrained by human laws; rights derived from the Great Legislator of the universe.” John Adams, second president of the United States. “We th People, in order to form a more perfect union. This is and represents ancient principles. As all of the blogs i write it is so important for the people to be heard. The devestation in the Gulf is not simply a problem created by BP. They, of course were allowed by our government agencies to drill an un-safe hole one mile down in the gulf. The government agencies were allowed to make business as usual by a congress that also has not been doing its job. And yes, “We the People” have allowed our government to not do its job, represent the best interests of the people. It is time to wake up, to be heard, to make action, to bring about change for the better, not the worse. To give up any rights for the common good is and will not ever be for the good unless we the common people become uncommon and use our rights as it was intended when such men as Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Lincoln, and yes the people agreed to our republica democratic order. First amendment rights are not the only rights we the people are allowing to be stolen from us. LOOK AROUND AMERICA…
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So true! I just joined word press today and I am already blown away with all of the good things I have read! The first amendment is not only crucial to us all in the writing world, but also to very survival of our country. We owe everything to those who have fought to obtain these sacred rights. Now we must take action in order to preserve this freedom.
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This is really great, good job for joining this!
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I back you up on this one.
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When I worked on “The Hill” in DC, back in the mid-eighties, I saw how our “leaders” would manipulate the way news would get out of Washington, and how news could be “locked in”. And all of this happened with no awareness by the citizens, and Congress appreciated that, greatly! But, now, with the Tea Parties and citizen involvment, the “silence” that surrounded DC is becoming transparent, and the secrets are not so “secret” anymore! Never back off, never step back; by pushing them hard, you are waking up the citizens of this great nation, and you are placing our leaders, and their progressive agenda, in grave danger!
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I’m glad this story is getting out there. 🙂
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I support the 1st Amendment and appreciate the opportunity to exercise this right.
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Great idea and very timely since it’s almost the 4th of July!
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It was about time! Thanks for sharing and for contributing to making this world, our world, a better place.
We all have to be the change we want to see in the world. It’s high time we started.
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Amen! Great post!!!!!! (emphasis on GREAT!) love it!
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So true! Everywhere (here in Canada included), our freedoms are being threatened. I support you completely.
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If we are to keep our freedoms, we *must* remain vigilant and hold our government officials accountable when they do not live up to their responsibilities. This was foreseen a long, long time ago:
“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” — Wendell Phillips, (1811-1884), abolitionist, orator and columnist for The Liberator, in a speech before the Massachusetts Antislavery Society in 1852, according to The Dictionary of Quotations edited by Bergen Evans
“They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” — Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania (1759)
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The first amendment rights needs to be protected. Kudos to wordpress for spreading the word and showing concern.
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Thanks WordPress. I love America and the principles it stands for but it is up to the people to ensure liberty not the government.
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This blow-out is more dangerous to stability than commonly assumed. I do not know if one should be more or less concerned when taking into consideration that there are many more operations, around 1000 oil drilling we are told, in The Mexican Gulf – but if more accidents occur it is sure to be a yet bigger problem.
I have been googling for serious news about the details of Deepwater and I was astonished that journalists did not protest to lack of serious insight. It turned out that neither politicians got the whole truth. I support this 1 for all. Good luck! Donald/Denmark.
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i can feel it from far away in jakarta. i hope, 1 for all, will be realize, someday, i thing everybody in the world in some majority, thing about that to.. so, what you done is so great, nomatter what you can do, the way you find some difficult to do it, you doing great. i hope i can do so. for human right.. i appreciated that… but in many way, it just sound like “to big to fail sceme..”… anyway, salut!…
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good idea …..
now it is time for more awareness and discussion..
thank you wordpress for joining and propagating the issue 🙂
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That’s Great! Thanks!
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Bravo! I’m glad to see a discussion of the First Amendment as it relates to our day to day lives. If we don’t take care to discuss these fundamental rights and how they apply to our lives they might not be there when we decide to exercise them! It seems the moment we are distracted and look away, policies spring up that chip away at the enumerated freedoms we are guaranteed under the Constitution (Patriot Act anyone?).
I believe the Patriot Act might have been drafted in good faith during a time of great fear in our country, however I know it has been used to whittle away at our civil liberties beyond the intended scope of the original act.
Good for you WordPress for taking up such an important issue!
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You cannot stop information, you cannot censor a people. The truth will always come out as long as people are vigilant. Keep sharing people, keep sharing.
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The first freedom is freedom of religion (Christianity). (The congress may not legislatively stop the unrestricted practise of Christianity.) Revelation 11:18 has a prayer that God should destroy those that destroy the earth. See also Proverbs 13:13.
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C’est génial…!!!!
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So proud of WordPress for supporting this!
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Thank you for helping emphasize that we must protect and preserve First Amendment rights for everyone.
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What has been left out of this story is the fact that the government has a law that prohibits outside help of other countries as far as other ships that could be helping. Also that the government has been holding back approval of most of the vessels that have been waiting to go in and help clean this mess up. The damage has been here and there and has not done the damage that the news media (who tends to make people believe the worst when in fact it is not that bad) tends to take it into the sci-fi world of facts that are not complete facts.
If you want to state a story, I suggest you get all the facts before doing so. The Exxon spill was the worst!
Also, something very few people seem to realize even though they live on this planet, is that Mother Earth has taken care of itself for millions of years without any help from man, woman or child. She corrects the wrong and makes it right again.
Example: When the planet is low on CO2, forest fires and brush fires are at their highest. When the planet has enough, well………….. check how many brush and forest fires there have been this year since summer started. While on the subject! Did you know that the oak trees that are dying is due to the fact of low CO2?
Perhaps more people should start to use the internet and the computers in front of them to check out more then just the news and stop believing everything that the news media hands out.
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This feels like another naive Gen-Y feel-goody kinda thing. Not to be cynical…but…really…
Free speech is a platitude. The first amendment is obsolute.
Even if you can say whatever you want you have no power in the face of serial trillion-dollar propoganda machines. Censorship exists within the logic of capitalism. That’s why you will never see a smoldering corpse on the front page of USA Today.
Action matters most of all. Our generation remains high on fluff and continuing to consume and support the free market with few real changes. I am part of all of this too but please let’s take it to the next level…
It’s easy to be a sofa-revolutionary these days…free speech…rah-rah-rah…
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I strongly approve this. Thanks!
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And remember this: there would be no First Amendment without the Second Amendment.
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It’s a good thing that the press is covering the oil spill. It’s a shame that the First Amendment is being suspended at the site. However, I will not let my rights be revoked because of bad publicity. Bad publicity is the only reason the amendment is being suspended at the site. Both the government and BP don’t want us, the people, to see their mistakes, let alone document them. But how can you cover up something this massive? What they are doing is pushing back photographers and scriveners at the site with the risk of imprisoning them for doing their jobs. It’s unbearable to see that a country, founded on freedom, is not obeying their own Constitution. What WordPress is doing by supporting our rights brings warmth to my heart. As my friends and I have seen the spill up close, taking several photos and being threatened with jail time, I’m sure this and many other organizations to support our rights will prevail in doing so. So all I have to say now is good job WordPress!
~ A Friend
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Its good to know that so many people and the media care about what is happeneing right now. I fully support the firt amendment because its what makes us proud to be here in the U.S. I’m really happy that WordPress is supporting this and that it cares. Thank you so much!!
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Great! Blogging and 1st Amendment FTW!!!!
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Unfortunately, given a liberal court system, the Freedom of Speech now also includes the production of pornography, child abuse and pornography, the desecration and destruction of the American flag, the alleged righteousness of flipping someone (including law enforcement and public officials) the “finger and open usage of such offensive words and phrases as that of the “F” word and “MF”.
From the onset, the purpose behind the creation of the First Amendment was to allow citizens to openly speak out against government without fear of reprisal. Too bad that has been expanded to include threatening others to bring them harm and/or death.
Be careful what you wish for because it most assuredly will find a way of coming back to bite you in your you-know-what.
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George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) has an interesting quote on the subject. he says, ‘The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is besides the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech.’
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Yes I approve this as well. How are they going to start changing the laws that they want to change? We need to get this out to everyone in the country and in the world and fight back!
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Great Job WordPress! I couldn’t even imagine not being able to say what’s on my mind or be informative to others if I knew something that they didn’t. My opinion is only my opinion but at least I have the option to tell others.
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Of course we should hold the First Amendment as a point of truth. It was established so to hold in check the possibility of tyranny from a centralized government.
Since is is held so dear, shall we not embrace the other nine of the original bill of rights as so dear.
WordPress may someday be a communication link from individuals that desire to remain free. It is good to start here.
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Joy – I am pleased to see your support of our First Amendment rights.
Is there any place where we can report blogs that advocate a violation of our First Amendment rights?
(yes – that was meant to be funny….)
😉
— hippieprof
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Edward M. McCartney.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
The first freedom is freedom of religion (Christianity). (The congress may not legislatively stop the unrestricted practise of Christianity.) Revelation 11:18 has a prayer that God should destroy those that destroy the earth. See also Proverbs 13:13.
Actually Edward, we do not live in a “Christian” nation as the First Amendment guaranteed that the government would not influence any specific faith. We live in nation of individuals that are allowed to be just that: individuals.
Thomas Jefferson wrote: “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between church and State.” in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association ..
He was saying that government will not help nor influence a specific faith. That the wall is to protect the faith of an individual from the government not government from faith. This is good because all individual faiths must be allowed to prosper individually, without government coerciveness. .
We are a nation of individuals first, Christian if you choose, with out centralized influence.
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The First Amendment only works when all 7 parts of the Amendment work in tandem. For example, people cannot freely speak their mind when the Press fails to be the government’s watchdog and so forth.
Support the First one and the rest will fall into place.
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Freedom of speech is under attack not just in America but around the world.
Down here in Australia they are attempting to censor the web even though most right thinking people are opposed to it.
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I approve this! Keep up the fight WordPress!
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The freedom of speech is under heavy attach by italian government, so we know well what it means, and what it could mean not to have it.
Yesterday it was a day of strike for (almost) all italian press and media, against a new law that’s under discussion in Parliament, and that is known as the “muzzle law”. This law is the worst attempt towards freedom of speech from Mussolini’s times.
If you don’t know what i’m talking about, look for “Alfano” and “day of silence” in Google News, and you’ll see what i mean.
If this law will be approved, maybe we’ll have to count on blogs, in order to spread news, so it’s very good to know that WordPress is supporting the freedom of speech… :))
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We need to worry more about our government in their never-ending quest to stifle those whose opinions are contrary to their own drivel. Take for example Obama’s latest push to create an “Internet Off Switch” supposedly under the guise of stopping terrorist activity, but realistically would be used when his Highness feels threatened from the truth being reported about all his illegal and unethical dealings and his lack of response to the important things like jobs and securing the borders.
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This is a great cause! As writers/bloggers, we are the last bastion of the freedom that is slowly being removed from the people. (Of all nations)
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Your idea is great, Joy. In America it is called the First Amendment in other countries the freedom of speech also is a right named in the constitution. It happens so much shit in this world therefore WorldPress is needed and help us to spreed the truth. I have been fighting for a lot of things but nobody will pay for it – the journalist is right. When you aren’t a known person it is not easy to make your words heard. Thanks to WorldPress were I can tell the world. By the way in Sweden there is a new “Big Brother law”, that means they can check out on the Internet what they want of each innocent citizen. In Germany I think it is nearly the same. For these reasons Amnesty International and other organizations were founded and many people are fighting for the human rights like the freedom of speech, but there can never be enough people fighting for these rights as long as the world is the way it is. Everyone is needed and with your help, Joy, some more joined this important work. Thanks one more time.
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Does it matter to them, I mean those in power, politics, the Congress , the Senate, and lets not forget the President?
We all know the Oil compaines are all about profit, thats understandable. But 80 days later and our administration has been sitting on its hands.
The Senate, not wanting to fly out on Friday before the 4th, bailed on the American people for a week vaction.
How Free can we be? How about dumping the two party, hey, listen, PAY ATTENTION, you can’t fire me Mr. President, and well, erm, I am expressing my freedoooooooooom of speech, right?
You lied, you said this and done that, where do we go now? Well, we leave the broken down, corrupt two party system and vote “Unaffliated”, no parties, for people who matter, a direct democracy, and we fire you “fckers.”
you can always check me out, charleymiller2010
BTW, we have to protect these rights, I agree, the erosions of what we have normally expected to be privileged and private is rapidily disappearing.
Charley Miller
Unaffiliated for Colorado’s US Senate
We shall shape this nation, bringing jobs back home.
charleymiller2010
p.s. yes drop me an email, what do you think? Once you stop saying whats on your mind, standing up, you have what our founding fathers feared most, by power being limited to a few, such as a two party system, tyranny.
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In times of crisis is important to work together.
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I love the people responsible for WordPress. AWESOME!!
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Unfortunately, it isn’t only an U.S. national tragedy, it’s GLOBAL tragedy, Joy!
Isn’t it a sign of failure of capitalist systems? Isn’t it very similar like an other Tchernobyl?
Aren’t they similar as CCCP leader about this facts?
Anyway… More voices, more choices.
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What a great idea for a contest Joy There are so many of us who are using the power of the Internet to exercise their free speech rights this will be a great way to bring them exposure while putting the spotlight on a very important issue.
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I am also much appreciative of WordPress’ valuing of the 1st Amendment of our U.S. Constitution so highly. Especially when we look around the world and see the extreme differences in some other nations. I am also gratified for all of my fellow commentators who agree with our G-d given rights to Freedom of speech and forum, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, GUARANTEED: “Shall not be abridged”, by the 1st Amendment–NOT GRANTED by our government.
Here’s some food for further thought: Without the 2nd Amendment–there may be no 1st Amendment!
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I live on the Gulf Coast in Biloxi and it’s been hard getting support. I feel like even the President is turning his back on us. Since we aren’t high profile, we don’t seem worth his breath. Maybe if we were a third world country, a football team or a whale we would get more support. I think it’s sad that the oil spill has gotten this far out of hand because of politics and permits. We live in a technologically advanced era, this could have and should have been fixed. Now we are loosing great resources and endangered species. When will humans start acting humane and not like politicians? There is a reason it’s called “Con-gress” it’s the opposite of “Pro-gress”.
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I feel as if our First Amendment rights are being eroded. Kudos to WordPress for taking on stand! Way to go!
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The entire constitution is important. Rights are being diminished by the day for the “Collective Good” Soon there will be no individual rights only “Collective rights” Ayn Rand predicted most of what is going on today, over 50 years ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMTDaVpBPR0&feature=player_embedded
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The United States and the United Kingdom have almost been overun my cultural marxists. Freedom is being timed ourt. Fight back!
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Thank’s…. So proud of WordPress for supporting this
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What is not mentioned in this note, is that local authorities normally don’t depend from the central government. But rather are entrenched with the local politics and business that pay their salaries. But I do agree that first amendment is paramount, regardless of the fact that many use it to distort reality, spread hate or push their individual agendas at the expense of the rest.
having said that:
WordPress is the best !
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Who says life is fair? Good idea, though. Let’s see what develops.
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Excellent! When I first started reading this I thought you were gonna start talking about the Oscar Grant trial protests where mainstream media not only spoke over speeches being made by outraged activists, they fabricated a hostile scenes and seemed to somehow miss the police harassment activity.
From this one man’s murder case to the devastation in the Gulf we can see how the media is either silent, silenced or dismissed. Everyone should be outraged that the media is being regulated in the Gulf and we need reporters with $$ backing to get arrested and take BP and to court.
What you are doing will hopefully create better unity and broader understanding. Thanks
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So proud to be part of the speak-it-out team here. Thanks wordpress for bringing this about.
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Good on you WP! If I was Americano, I’d support the cause as well 😉 Good luck!
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May I humbly suggest, as one who does not live in the US, that the pressure for free speech does not get further involved in the vilification of BP. It is not in anyone’s interest to run down a company that is largely owned by the US and which employs thousands of USA workers. lays golden eggs for the pensions of many of your own citizens, and provides oil and other products for thirsty industrial nations. It is ridiculous to suggest that BP engineers are not doing their best to repair the damage or control the oil flow. Go to http://www.bp.com/bodycopyarticle.do?categoryId=1&contentId=7052055
and keep abreast of activities.
By all means campaign for free speech. You might also look into the possibility that your own unions may not be keen for foreigners to come to help with the clean up.
Like all people concerned with the environment and people’s jobs, I am saddened to see even one creature destroyed and I feel for your loss. I also feel for the loss of rain forests and the wild life they support. Third world countries are exploited for oil and minerals but who cries out for them? The West is greedy, wastes resources and could do more to save the environment. Surely this disaster is a wake-up call for the West to look into ways of reducing demand.
Anti-British feeling, which comes through from time to time, does nothing to help our mutual relationship. As everyone knows, BP is multinational.
BP is already handing out millions (one billion pounds to date, so I believe) and they are committed to full compensation over the years.
The press is good at exposing evils, it is also good at stirring discontent. That is freedom of the Press. But go on line and see for yourselves what is really happening in the struggle to repair the leak.
And don’t forget the workers who risk their lives day by day to put gas in your tank and light in your homes. The families of those who were blown apart must be gutted. No compensation can make up for their suffering.
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