This is a disturbing email I got today:
I was born in Communist Serbia and I remember thousands of times I was told watch what you say, don’t talk bad about your country or your government. Well my father said a few things once in a public place and they reported him and guess what, the Serbian version of Gestapo showed up and arrested him.
I got this very disturbing email from someone who thinks all people should get in line or get out. Obviously this is a person who doesn’t like American principles of the founding fathers and like more of the old Serbian principles of if you don’t like get out. I’m sure as there are more people like this it will be the next step like “or else….”.
If this person knew American history they would know that the founding fathers knew popular speech didn’t need protecting, it’s the un-popular that did. I’m probably more American then this person who is trying to force everyone to shut up while the country keeps spending taxpayers money like a drunken sailor as I wrote in my last blog post. All that was is a comment on what I think is wrong with this country, that doesn’t mean the country is bad, it’s just that it spends money and there is a chance when I retire Uncle Sam might not be able to take care of me (which I don’t expect). I’m just commenting on the situation! If we are a republic as the founding fathers wanted, can’t we comment on what the republic is doing wrong?
Am I wrong to comment on it??? I think the USA has more debt the the entire planet combined (I don’t’ have any proof). If we are a free people we can comment on this disturbing trend?
I spoke at a seminar once and this guy rose up and said that “people like me who don’t pay taxes” are the reason he can’t move forward in life.
Well I pay taxes from day 1 and each and every year since I came to this country, not that I like the taxes since Uncle Sam spends it like crazy, but I pay them. But the day I can’t talk about the government will be a sad day for America.
Even Serbia is a free capitalist country again where Serbs criticize Serbia for spending money each and every day. I’m proud of the Serbian people for fighting and getting this right.
I’ll speak my mind here in America while I pay taxes (and even if I was deported I would say what I want). When I was born my Godparents gave me the name “The one who is free”. And the one who is free likes to speak his mind even when it’s not popular!
Dan Stojadinovic
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
When in Rome act like the Romans
Pete,
The whole point of the republic is that an individual has un-alienable right protected by the bill of rights. The reason is so he/she doesn’t have to “act like the Romans”. See the beauty of the system as the founding fathers envisioned it, is that as long as you don’t intrude on other people’s freedom (like forcing me against my will to Serbia for example) I can say or do what I want.
The job of the Republic is to protect that freedom! So no, I will not act like the Romans.