“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 1st Amendment
The two things listed above this editorial — a chart listing the increasing attacks on reporters in this country and the text of what our Founding Fathers enshrined about freedom of expression — show a conflict in America right now. It’s between a historical commitment to fair play, freedom and holding governmental accountable with a modern trend toward trying to destroy whatever we disagree with.
Do not be deceived: If we continue down this path, we cannot survive as a free country. As Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
America must get back to its founding principles of respect of differing views, freedom to practice all religious beliefs, even if others don’t like them, and a press that is not censored or controlled by the government or partisan interests.
As we mark National Newspaper Week, we’re reminding people of their personal responsibility to make sure that government of the people, by the people and for the people does not perish from the earth, to borrow a phrase from Lincoln. That means doing your part to respect others, to stand up for a free press, to disagree without being disagreeable and to be open to the idea that there might be some things you don’t know that might be right.
In addition to the personal responsibility incumbent upon each of us to do those things, the backbone of a society as a whole that does them is a free press. It is the oil in the engine that keeps all the necessary parts running smoothly. Remove it and your engine will blow up very soon.
Let’s make sure that never happens in America.
— Charlie Smith
