Marking the baseline

Amendment I

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.

That's the first amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It guarantees me, a US born and raised, tax-paying, civic minded citizen the right to speak and to gather. Under the interpretation of these rights that has held for 248 years and all 61 of the years I've lived so far, I can loudly and repeatedly criticize my government, the people in it, and those leading it. I can do this in the park, on the street, on the internet. I can do it without fear of being arrested or locked up by the government that I criticize. As long as I have not made any actionable threats, I can criticize, ridicule, satirize, and mock all day, every day. 

                                            Photo by Maurits Bausenhart from Unsplash

This is a baseline assertion of this particular right - the right of free expression. 

I am putting it here because I fully expect us - Americans - to slip and slide away from this baseline over the next few years. To slowly be convinced that there are more limits on this right than there are, or that the right means things it doesn't (such as applying to private businesses. Or that your right to speak implies I need to listen (Nope)). To be told or have it strongly implied that one should be quiet. We will slip from this baseline, toward a much more limited - and white man privileging - definition of this right. 

We will start to censor ourselves. Major institutions - from foundations to universities - are already doing this. DEI statements are disappearing from websites and brochures. (The flimsiness of these commitments is evident in the speed with which institutions are ditching them).

Those who speak up will be subjected to on/offline harassment. Doxxing. Mobs and fear have become "expected" responses to those who speak against the incoming president and his allies. His allies now include the leaders/owners of the platforms we rely on to communicate with each other and to gather (or plan gatherings).

Mark this baseline. Mark your own behavior. If you believe, as I do, that we should not give in to the demands of a wanna be dictator if we want to keep our democracy, then exercise your right to free speech. 

I am putting this out there so you keep your eyes on me. In case anything happens to me. Because I intend to keep speaking out, to keep criticizing and mocking. To keep moving toward a multiracial democracy that enables all of us to do all we can to save out planet. Not to live in an oligarch-owned autocracy hell bent on grabhing as much power as they can, as quickly as they can, and with no intention of letting it go. I'm not giving them any of my power. And, if they shut me up for what I'm saying, you will know that we have lost our first amendment rights and the slide away from democracy has accelerated.