Free Speech - why it isn't what you think it is

We live in a country of idiots.

Over the nearly 240 years since independence was declared this country and its inhabitants have seen a number of highs and lows.  We've seen wars and we've seen desecration.  We've seen peace and prosperity (for some).  And often, far too often, laws are used to incorrectly reinforce ideas; whether that's under the guise of a purported right to own firearms (which when reading the ACTUAL TEXT of the Second Amendment clearly outlines the requirements for such things to be true, and virtually none of the gun owners meet these requirements) OR the right to freedom of speech as outlined in the First Amendment which will be our topic today.  

There is an incredible misunderstanding in this country about what Freedom of Speech means.  People make the assumption that they can say anything they want anywhere they want and they are covered under this law from any repercussions.  This could not be further from the truth.

For those of you not familiar with the specific verbiage of the First Amendment I am including the unabridged text here:

"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 to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

The key phrase that people fail to grasp from this statement is right at the beginning, "Congress shall make no law..." this is explicitly indicating that a law shall not exist which infringes on free speech.  Laws are executed by government agencies and maintained by states and the federal law enforcement agencies within this country.  Laws of this sort do NOT extend to public or private business or spaces.  People CANNOT simply say whatever they want and wrap themselves in the cover of the First Amendment and be "OK".

Here's a good example of the idiocy of people.  My drive to and from work is primarily on toll-roads and the primary road I take has numerous bridges and two walking path bridges that the road travels under.  Over the past few years I have been caught up in dozens of traffic jams, some of which extend 10 or more miles back, due to dumbass fucking people camping out on one of these walking path bridges and putting up stupid signs like: "Impeach Obama" or "Abortion is Murder" and other conservative right-wing shit like that.  

Over this past winter the local government decided to put up shaded netting - the kind you find on good tennis courts to keep wind from blowing through - which was clearly done specifically and explicitly to keep these dumbass people from massing on these paths and causing massive traffic issues.  I was extremely excited about this since traffic is bad enough without these fucks adding to it.  

Well, today on my drive home I was experiencing random traffic issues and I thought, "there must have been an accident - it couldn't be those assholes; there's that netting now".  Well, guess what...yeah, it was the idiots.  They had signage above the netting and off to the side of the path and this signage, instead of being some crazy conservative hate-speech it was various versions of complaints about their freedom of speech being infringed upon and demanding the right to be there and put their signs up.  Oh, did I mention that in several places these people destroyed portions of the netting?  No, well, they did.

Ok, so let's get one thing straight - I don't have to like or give a fuck about your message to hate you for causing traffic issues for me and thousands of other people JUST SO YOU CAN SAY THINGS NO ONE CARES ABOUT EXCEPT YOU.  But the fact that these people think that the netting is an infringement on their rights is TOTALLY FALSE AND IGNORANT!

The netting is not a law enacted to limit their speech.  The parties involved in placing the netting there were attempting to merely prevent unwanted affects from their demonstrations.  

You have the right to assemble.  You have the right to protest.  HOWEVER other people and organizations have the right to inhibit you from adversely affecting the surrounding area.  Add to this the fact that you destroyed public property and I hope these assholes got arrested today.  

I have dreams, no kidding, about making my way to the bridge where these people are with a paintball gun and just shooting everyone there, repeatedly at close range - pelting them with high-velocity rounds of paint.  Cause pain but do no permanent or deadly damage.  The satisfaction I have during these dreams is outstanding.

People will continue to unabashedly misunderstand and ignorantly invoke this law; of this I have no doubt.  But my hope is that somewhere along the way someone may stumble upon this post and learn a little something.

For now; please please please don't just assume something is true - investigate and learn.

Tb