Defend Free Speech!

The very cornerstone of the great Western democracies has been the Judeo-Christian belief in the freedom of expression. In the United States this God given right has been enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment guarantees the freedom of the press, speech, religion and peaceful protest.

Recently, all of these divine values came under attack in France. Violent, fanatical Muslim terrorists killed 12 members of the staff of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine that dared to publish cartoons of the prophet Mohammed. The terrorists were offended by mere cartoons !

Well, I for one am offended by their barbaric ideology that drives their murderous acts. They took precious human lives due to their warped and godless beliefs. This is a direct assault upon freedom throughout the world . It is a direct assault upon the One True God who teaches love and freedom for all humanity.

Freedom of the press, of speech and of religion must be defended at all costs. Without these freedoms we will become slaves of this mutated, evil strain of Islam. Freedom is the most precious gift given by God to humanity,

I know not what others will do, but I will oppose this monstrous evil that seeks world domination in every way possible. Dietrich Bonhoeffer a Lutheran pastor wrote near the end of World War II, “To remain silent in the face of evil, is evil itself.” I refuse to cower, I refuse to remain silent. I will speak outagainst this spreading black shadow that threatens  to engulf the world and destroy our hard won freedoms. I refuse to become complicit with evil.

So help me God.

First published as a letter to the editor in the Jonesboro Sun.