Are you confident that your right to free speech is secure?
Maybe you should take a look at this site;
Remember what the German government did to Compuserve. It could happen here.
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| The Bill of Rights |
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The "Bill of Rights" is comprised of the first ten ammendments to the Constitution of the United States of America. These ammendments were deemed crucial by the drafters of the Constitution and are by far the most important of all the constitutional "rights" enjoyed by citizens of this country. This Bill of rights became law on 15 December, 1791.
It is interesting to note that the constitution of Russia (before the breakup of the soviet bloc, at least) was almost identical to our own. The key difference was that the Russian citizens had no bill of rights attached to the document. We need not ask how different the society of Russia is from our own. (Yes there are some other factors at work too, but most of them can be traced either directly or indirectly to the freedoms guaranteed to the citizens of the United States.
The bill of rights was carefully considered and worded by this country's founders to be an everlasting document detailing the basic freedoms upon which any civilized society should be founded. Those words are just as important today as they were over two hundred years ago. In recent times certain misguided or evil individuals have attempted to distort their meaning. In spite of elegantly worded half truths and appeals to emotionalism, our bill of rights has stoically stood its ground. It is indeed timeless but we must be ever vigilant to those who would destroy it for their own gain.
It is evident from a quick scan of the list of all amendments to our constitution that the orignial ten are written briefly and elegantly without excess verbiage. The same cannot neccessarily be said for the remaining ammendments.
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.
Remember what the German government did to Compuserve. It could happen here.
A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
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No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital or other infamous crime unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service, in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which districts shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States than according to the rules of the common law.
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.