October 31, 2006 > Our first amendment rights

While getting dressed for a memorial service for the mother of six I was listening to the news; they were talking about the "War on Terror" in the Middle East.

It suddenly dawned on me!  We are so focused on what is going on internationally that we are ignoring what is going on in our own backyards.

We are a country besieged with our own terrorists and we do not recognize it for what it is.  I am talking about our war on "drugs"," gangs" and "racism;" we need to WAKE UP!  We should treat these groups that spout hatred, terror and sell drugs as terrorists.

I know that the first thing someone will say is that this would be a violation of their first amendment rights.   Not true.  It states "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."

The key word here is PEACEABLE.  There is nothing peaceable about drugs, gangs or racism.  Maybe if we go after them like we go after the insurgents (another word for gangs and hate groups) we might win our war on terror at home.
 
Maggie Pederson
Fremont