I keep coming across stories, legal actions, trials, etc. of people getting persecuted and/or prosecuted for something they said with which some officials disagreed. This mainly involves citizens, not the government, the elite, media, or academia.

Recently I found even my political affiliation can result in the loss of liberties.

I shared my concerns with someone, wondering why every federal institution is arming themselves when we already have a military and militarized police protection. I got a look of shock and was told “you can’t say that, you could get in trouble, maybe even on a list – we’re being watched.”

If we add to this paranoia, public cameras, electronic data collection, unfettered bureaucrats and political correctness – our freedoms are shackled. Speech is how I communicate, whether written or spoken. Where’s the belief for the First Amendment?

When those in power have the capability to change the freedoms, liberties and means of expression without the people’s approval, how can we ever maintain a culture of “We the People?”

Benjamin Franklin: “Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” I think we’ve reached that point.

Why must we fear gaining information through personal experiences (life, books, and unhindered interaction with others)? Why can’t we freely seek what is true? If we can’t put our thoughts and opinions into the arena of ideas, then thinking becomes little more than talking to ourselves. Aren’t our thoughts and power to reason what makes us different from sheep?

What do we do when the people sworn to protect us and look out for our interests are the same people we need protection from? If we can no longer say what we think, then we can no longer avoid the shackles of bondage.