I admit it, this blog is neglected by me. I honestly don't know if anyone comes here anymore, but I've realized that, when it all comes down to it, that shouldn't hold me back from posting.
There are alot of political posts swimming around in cyberspace right now, some for our President-Elect and some against him, and you're all probably sick of them. But, at this point, I must rant.
I am sick and tired of being called racist if I make it known that I don't support Mr. Obama. I don't care what color a person's skin is, and wonder why we can't all just let the differences in color rest. Why do we keep calling people who have a more mellanan in their skin that folks like me 'African American'? They left Africa generations ago! They're Americans, just like me and you; we're all pretty much the same when it all comes down to it.
Mr. Obama could be white as a clean sheet and I STILL wouldn't support him. Why? Because color isn't the issue here! The issue is having a President who will keep his oath of office. We need a man who will uphold the Constitution!
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.
Congress cannot declare a national religion. We must also understand that by 'religion' the founders meant 'Christian denomination'. This happened in several European countries, and millions were killed because they were not Catholic or Anglican etc. Many of the survivors came to America where they would not be persecuted, and the founders did not want their journey to be in vain. This doesn't mean that you can make statements in any manner that you like. If you want to say 'I think the Bush administration has messed things up really badly,' you can. That's your right. It's also my right to say, 'I think we need to talk so that you can have a clearer understanding of what the Bush adminstration has done for us.' It does not permit you desecrate the American flag, vandilize buildings or fences by painting them without permission of the owner, or throw things at people and shout profanities because you don't like them. The government can't call up the newspapers and other media folk and say "Print/say this or else." The story of John Peter Zenger is a wonderful example of why the founders placed this among the amendments. Peaceful demenstration for or against something is perfectly fine. It, however, does not allow people to take mob action.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If you are of age, you are permitted to own a firearm. It makes no distiction between weapons used for hunting and those that are now called 'assult weapons', and I believe that the founders would be disgusted by such a distinction. The ownership of these weapons are necessary for our freedom and security.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
The government can't force you to allow your house to be used as a baracks. This surprises us now, but in the time of the War of Independence, Britan was forcing Americans to do just that.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The government can't just raid your house. They must have a warrant, and that warrant must be supported by a witness.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
You can't be prosecuted for a captial (very serious, involving execution) crime unless on a presentment or indictment (formal statements that charge you with an offence) of a Grand Jury, you can only be prosecuted once for each crime, no one can force you to testify against yourself, there must be a 'due process' before anyone takes away your life, liberty or property, and the government cannot take away your private property (although there are some rare exceptions).
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Trials cannot be delayed, and they must be public. The jury is not to be partial to one side or the other, and you shall be brought to trial in the district where you commited the crime. You shall also be told what offence you are charged with, and you are given the right of having legal representation (a lawyer)
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
You have the right to trial by jury in a noncriminal trial as well.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The court must allow you out of jail before the trial if you put up a reasonable bail. If you are convicted, you cannot be subjected to a cruel or unusual punishment (a punishment disproportionate to your crime)
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
(the Encarta Encylopedia puts this nicely) '...just because certain rights are not mentioned in the Constitution does not mean that they do not exist. Courts may not infer from the silence of the Constitution that an unlisted right is unavailable to protect individuals from the government.'
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
The fedral government is limited in its authority. If the Constitution does not give it the authority to do something, that authority belongs to the states and the people.
Do you think that your rights as stated here will be upheld by our President Elect? Somehow I doubt it. These rights are already abused, and that abuse is bound to only worsen.