INTIMIDATION, CHOICES AND OUR MORAL OBLIGATION

"The U.S. Supreme Court has said it will hear a case concerning whether the Washington Secretary of State may release the names and addresses of the more than 138,000 people who signed a pro-marriage petition in the state...

...Proponents of Ref. 71 have said that the availability of personal information on the internet has led to the “harassment and intimidation” of those who support traditional marriage. A press release said supporters have been subject to death threats, physical violence, and property damage because of laws requiring the publication of the information on the internet...

...“No citizen should ever worry that they will be threatened or injured because they have exercised their right to engage in the political process.”

Bopp argued that the First Amendment protects citizens from being required to disclose their identity when they are engaged in political speech. He noted that the Supreme Court stayed the release of the names in 2009, saying this indicated the high court recognizes the importance of the case."

Catholic News Agency

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.

US Constitution

I suppose that one can make the argument that the First Amendment somehow makes it illegal for a state to release the names of those that sign a petition because fear could be used to abridge or prohibit speech. Of course, even in light of the Fourteenth Amendment one has to wonder how this can be applied to a Secretary of State in Washington since the First Amendment clearly identifies the United States Congress as its intended object.

I support states rights and the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution. I also have to be consistent in my beliefs. This is a state issue. If the citizens of Washington disagree with the actions of their Secretary of State then they need to handle this themselves.

Every time we run to the SCOTUS we open the door to more Federal interference in our lives. SCOTUS has vastly overstepped its Constitutional limitations time and time again by legislating from the bench. When we refuse to fight our fights at the state level and instead run to SCOTUS we allow our sovereignty to be eroded even further. We need to keep our family problems in the family; don't allow outsiders in.

Something else needs to be addressed here. I understand that Washington is releasing these names in an attempt to silence those the state disagrees with. The state will use the threat of terror to control you. And this is just the beginning.

If we believe that something is true then we have a moral obligation to stand up for it. The problem is that the obligation comes with no guarantee. We can and most likely will expose ourselves to scorn, ridicule and increasingly real danger by standing up. This is just a fact. If you don't believe me, just read the news. Our governments expect us to go along with the program and be quiet. Even Joe Lieberman, who as a Senator has a lot more power than most of us, saw his wife attacked after his half-assed objection to health control. The people at the top are playing for keeps.

Of course, this has always been the case. We have been lulled into complacency over the last 30 years or so of relative stability in our country. Vietnam was the last time we saw any sort of major social unrest and it wasn't really that bad, at least compared to revolution. Most weren't asked to take a public stand on the issue of the war and so we could all watch it from afar. Things are different this time.

Thomas Payne said, "These are the times that try mens's souls." We've heard this quote a million times. But think about what it means. We are entering a time like the revolution when you will have to choose sides. That choice will come at a price; your soul will be tried. This is because the results of your choice will have real consequence. Pick the wrong side and you may not get a job or you may be ostracized by your friends and family. You may lose your possessions, possibly your freedom and maybe your life. Choices of this magnitude require real soul searching. You need to understand what you believe and why. And, you need to think this through now so that when the choice is offered you have your reply ready.

You also need to make sure that those around you understand why you believe what you do. It is quite possible for your beliefs to cause separation from family and friends. They need to understand why you are doing what you do, just in case you come up missing. I know this sounds crazy but it's not. Just look to Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union or any number of other dictatorships. This still happens around the world all the time and could happen here, too.

The fact that the people of Washington feel so intimidated by the release of their names causes me some trepidation. If the American people are so weak that this minor threat could cause them to remain silent then we have lost the war before the first battle is over. Americans need to begin the soul searching process now. They need to determine just how far is far enough and they need to be willing to take a stand. If we won't stand strong in the face of the coming storm we will be swallowed by the waves of totalitarianism. By our silence we will have written our obituary. If we refuse to stand slavery is our destiny and the chosen conclusion of the American experiment. We will have proven ourselves unworthy of the freedom we have tossed away.