First Amendment

A King for the People by Alex King I submit, for the people, a short yet necessary take on the

that doesn't get enough traction. As described in the Bill of Rights, the first safeguard our founders prescribed to dam the natural flow of government toward tyranny was this: 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. So…what exactly does that mean, and furthermore, how should it matter in a context that also promotes belief, speech, journalism, and petitions? If we buy into lazy notions about free assembly when it comes to a political nature, then we are likely to equate the expression of our First Amendment rights with only two, limited actions: debating and then voting…or voting and then debating, depending on how you determine to view that political chicken-and-egg conundrum. Sadly, too many of us have even come to accept the falsehood that there is something wrong with holding a debate. So many of us remain silent and allow power structures to speak for us. Somehow, we have become afraid to hold the necessary arguments with those around us, and we would rather place important decisions in the hands of a higher authority. Because we have for too long assumed that discussions about the things that govern our lives will cause division and bitterness-rather than accepting the inverse that those discussions are entirely necessary to unity at large-we have lost too much control of the world directly around us. The inability and unwillingness to engage in peaceful dialogue has allowed our largely appointed and unelected power structures to hold that dialogue for us. In other words, rather than us speaking for government, government has begun to speak for us. It is therefore my personal belief that only the decentralization of power can bring our local communities back to life. By putting more choices in the assembly of those around us, who are by proximity more accountable to us, then we will have a greater opportunity of experiencing a government not only run by the power of THE people but instead by the power of OUR people. So… how do we accomplish this feat? The most impactful way to inspire change is by truly utilizing our freedom to assemble. And when I say "assemble," I'm not limiting that assembly to the notion of simply coming together for conversation. I'm advocating for people to agree upon, work together, and enact peaceful tactics and strategies that will, little-by-little, reach a desired conclusion. If we are upset with the status of things around us, then we can unite with other likeminded individuals, strategize together, and put our plans into action. Peaceful resistance should always be the goal, but that is not to say that we cannot be peacefully creative with our approaches. It's all about making a diplomatic statement that moves the dialogue forward, not backwards (although it will often be necessary to discuss history). While we should obviously understand the sentiments of our forefathers, we should also accept that the sacrifices of many throughout history have provided us the tools to carry out change without the need for the violence of the past. And although many of us rightfully feel that the force being thrown at us is violence, we cannot permit any excuse for the increasing gaslighting perpetuated by media and government to paint us as extremist despots in response. The greatest threat to our freedoms is not force, after all, but instead the overwhelming acceptance that our individual liberties are not inherently ours. In other words, as long as we believe in and adhere to the values of liberty, then it will never truly be lost.