Freedom, liberty, and justice for all?

The Constitution of the United States of America is a seminal document that is not only unique amongst the world’s countries but also fraught with controversy, miscommunication, and misinterpretation.  The Constitution not only serves as a defining document in the United States, but also as the goto for those asserting their “rights” to freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and every other freedom that gets thrust into the media’s tight, sweaty grip.  But what does the first amendment actually mean?  We have numerous organizations that attempt to define what this amendment means for all of us living in the U.S., the ACLU for example.  But it should seem extremely transparent to anyone tuned in that there has been a reversal in discrimination in this country in that we have gone from a country with a religious background to a country worshiping science and anti-Christian sentiment.  

The words of the constitution get misconstrued mainly because they come from a different era.  They come from an era where the Catholic church was oppressing everyone who didn’t maintain it’s beliefs, hence that one keyword in the first amendment “abridge.”  It wasn’t even isolated to those who were non-Catholic but also those within the Catholic hierarchy.  A timeless example being that of Copernicus.  His theory of a heliocentric universe revolutionized astronomy and physics to the point that as Bishop, he was condemned.  These events in the Catholic church were the very same events that lead our founding fathers to do things differently and the rights we have were meant as a means of oppressing tyranny, not the other way around.  

It would seem that we, in America, accuse, oppress and discriminate against what is not popular and well, this has happened for hundreds of years, thousands of years even.  But we fail to maintain any semblance of our founding father’s ideals in that we cast vast nets amongst all those who disbelieve in evolution, for those not married to science, for those who are scientists but religious -- Christian or otherwise.  The Bible doesn’t preach oppression, it is supposed to teach acceptance.  And while it gives rather black and white principles, it also teaches respect for others.  There are plenty of Christians and Muslims for that matter who are accepting, loving, and respectful of others -- “Love your neighbor as yourself” -- which begs us to wonder why discrimination is so rampant in our society.  

In a documentary following the EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) units in Afghanistan, one US soldier was interviewed and stated he was Muslim and said he had no problem with fighting terrorism as he believes Islam is not about extremist ideals but about tolerance for others.  Another example -- all be it negative -- is a group who calls themselves Christian yet condemns the fallen soldiers of this country plastering rather socially unacceptable words and slurs on picket signs in protest of ideals that have no relation to Christianity what so ever.  Their actions not only abridge others but also forfeit their right to peaceful demonstration on such grounds -- social embarrassment aside.  This group of people is in no way a church, or a representation of Christianity as a whole, either Catholic or Protestant, or even non-denominational.

Even so, we have set a course for disastrous consequences however we look at social dynamics, both globally, but also domestically, and it would seem it’s bound to get worse before it gets better.