During the years before the American Revolution, the British Empire did not allow citizens to assemble in groups in public. The King's government feared that citizens assembling in groups could lead to the attempt to overthrow the government. William Penn, in 1670, was convicted for public preaching. As the call for independence approached, deeper restrictions on public assembly were enforced, to restrict the colonists from assembling to protest the various Acts passed by Parliament that attempted to tax and control the colonial population.
The right to assembly runs hand in hand with the right of association, a key principle in the founding of this nation, because of the key importance to those who wanted to correct wrongs done by their government. If they could not assemble, they could not achieve their goals.
Freedom of Association is defined as the right of people to meet together to further their common goals. Furthering their goals might include such things as organizing their efforts, marching, picketing or gathering in public places.
Like-minded people associating together is seen as dangerous by a statist government when those people oppose the policies, or social-engineering, of the ruling class of government.
The concept of the Freedom of Association came to mind when I heard about the NFL's plans to begin inspecting tattoos for signs of any gang affiliations, so as to avoid, in the future, any problems like the murder allegedly committed by New England Patriots' star, Aaron Hernandez. This seems good on the surface. It makes sense, in a way. But we have to remember that evil always first portrays itself as good, and ultimately good for society as a whole - when in truth, when considered regarding the big picture, it is actually very damaging.
The NFL is a private enterprise. They can do as they please with their business. I am not challenging their allowances as a private corporation. As the signs say in many establishments, "We have the right to refuse service to anyone." But, checking tattoos, so as to ban players who have associations not approved by the league, is a part of a larger trend that we are also seeing pop up in government. Though I get what the NFL is trying to do, I have a real problem with them banning players based on their past associations, as revealed by tattoos they may have.
What happens if government begins to do the same thing? What happens if hanging out with certain patriot groups, or being the member of a particular church, can lead to you being disallowed to participate in some functions of society, or even some functions of government?
Sound preposterous?
Hold that thought.
Senator Ted Cruz says that we are on the doorstep of the government going after preachers for hate-speech if they dare preach in opposition to homosexuality. What if you have a history of attending churches that preach the same? Will you be penalized for daring to associate with such defiant churches?
The San Antonio City Council in the State of Texas is working on a proposed change to its nondiscrimination ordinances that will target those who take the Bible at its word and follow it. Any past association with people, groups, or churches that teaches the Bible's condemnation of homosexuality will be punished with a permanent ban on participation in city government, business or employment - because such an association exhibits a "bias" not acceptable to the local government. Article VI. of the U.S. Constitution is specific, disallowing religious tests as a requirement to hold any office or public trust. The planned ordinance change also spits in the face of the concept of Freedom of Association.
Association with groups unapproved by the government are forbidden, is basically what San Antonio is saying.
We already have seen the IRS targeting those that dared to associate with patriot groups. Now, your religious freedoms, and Freedom of Association, are being targeted, and you will be punished for associating with those that preach in a manner not acceptable to ruling government bureaucrats.
The San Antonio proposal goes after "Anyone in office who demonstrates a bias," which would then consider those persons to be guilty of “malfeasance” and removed from office.
If you voice any opinion, no matter when in life you uttered it, San Antonio plans to use it against you.
Local church leaders say it allows the city council "to prohibit those that speak their religious beliefs regarding homosexuality from serving on city boards."
“For example, if a person publicly expresses their religious belief that homosexual behavior is a sin – even if this expression is at a church service – that person could be frozen out of involvement with city government.”
Analysis also contends businesses “run by people of faith will be subject to criminal penalties if they refuse to provide services that conflict with their religious beliefs relating to homosexuality.”
The San Antonio proposal goes after "Anyone in office who demonstrates a bias," which would then consider those persons to be guilty of “malfeasance” and removed from office.
If you voice any opinion, no matter when in life you uttered it, San Antonio plans to use it against you.
Local church leaders say it allows the city council "to prohibit those that speak their religious beliefs regarding homosexuality from serving on city boards."
“For example, if a person publicly expresses their religious belief that homosexual behavior is a sin – even if this expression is at a church service – that person could be frozen out of involvement with city government.”
Analysis also contends businesses “run by people of faith will be subject to criminal penalties if they refuse to provide services that conflict with their religious beliefs relating to homosexuality.”
Heck, the Left is even trying to keep people from seeing the movie "Ender's Game," because the author of the book it is based on, Orson Scott Card, is pro-traditional marriage. Chaplains are being silenced for daring to preach the word in the military. Your Freedom of Association is under attack, because the Left is using their social beliefs as weapons by calling their social beliefs "civil rights."
Liberalism is positioning itself to eliminate all opposition, and to criminalize it, if it must. Your Freedom of Association is a threat to their tyranny. Your willingness to gather in groups to defy them causes fear in the halls of government. Your are harder to control if you associate freely.
Liberalism is positioning itself to eliminate all opposition, and to criminalize it, if it must. Your Freedom of Association is a threat to their tyranny. Your willingness to gather in groups to defy them causes fear in the halls of government. Your are harder to control if you associate freely.
The Founding Fathers warned us about this kind of madness, and we must assemble to put a stop to it.
Freedom of Association, of which the liberal left is working to take away, must be our greatest weapon.
United We Stand, Combined We Kick Butt.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Ted Cruz Warns that Charging Pastors with Hate Speech is Next Step - Restoring Liberty
The Freedom of Assembly Clause - Revolutionary War and Beyond
U.S. City Looks to Penalize Bible Believers - World Net Daily
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