The Constitution empowers Americans to exchange ideas and beliefs through rational discourse. The fundamental tenet of our democracy is that a populous should be free to challenge its status quo by both written and spoken word. More importantly, our citizens should be free to gather for discussion in a collective, peaceable fashion.
By knowing "when to say when" we keep our discourse productive, but safe.
Yesterday's shooting is an unfathomable destruction of life and liberty. The man who opened fire is both a murderer and a traitor. Nowhere does our Constitution allow the right to open fire on an unsuspecting crowd of innocents. Peaceable assemblies can be loud, they can be distasteful, and they can purport ideas that buck the status quo. But they may not be scenes of slaughter.
Our leaders must examine carefully the roots underlying this tragedy and answer some tough questions. Has our rhetoric gone too far? When does dialogue become direction? Can a government mandate civility in political discourse? These are the questions that will shape our nation's political future. Let's hope they get it right.
tlc
