Celebrating the protester

Photo credit: Getty Images

When America was being born between the turbulence of the first Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, the genius of our founders was displayed by their wisdom to separate church and state. They made certain that there would never be an official religion in America. The dogmas of malice, corruption, racism, and looniness that vomit from the pulpits of Jerry Falwell Jr., Joel Osteen, Pastor Paula, Pastor Hagee, Franklin Graham and the rest of the Jesus hustlers who affront Christ with each new grift in his name, will never become state-sanctioned. They will never impose theocracy because of the genius of the First Amendment.

It reads:

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.

This amendment is the guarantor of our freedom and liberty in America. It leashes the politicians, and makes clear that our fundamental rights to think, reason, read, write, believe, dissent, debate, oppose, assemble, speak and worship will never be threatened in America. This is a nation in which the freedom of conscience has been defended by stupendous sacrifice and bravery.

The American patriots who must be celebrated include the protesters — the people who risk it all to raise their voices and fists to send a message. Was the message political? Was it controversial?

Did it draw death threats and rage? Did it stir anger and opposition? Damn right it did.

Let’s look at a long ago picture from an Olympic Games when two black American athletes, along with a white Australian, stood in triumphant glory, and exercised their God-given right to protest.

American runners Tommie Smith, center, and John Carlos, right, used their medal wins at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City to highlight the racial tensions in the U.S. Australian Peter Norman (left) didn’t raise his fist, but he stood with them in solidarity. Photo credit: AP

It is a glorious picture. What I see is pride, determination, victory, courage, fearlessness and dignity. I see respect and humility towards the symbol of the nation that oppressed them by the desecrations of the white supremacists who were still fighting in the clear light of day in 1968. I see an act of exquisite patriotism. The athletes and Olympic champions who honored America on that day were Tommie Smith, John Carlos and Australian Peter Norman.

In 1971, when Marvin Gaye released ‘What’s Going On’ — his statement of defiance and protest against racism, injustice, war, poverty and inequality — it was a work of genius. The searing words were delivered with a velvet scalpel so smooth and soft that even the most jaded and determined extremists couldn’t help but be hypnotized. Some of the greatest music ever made has been among the greatest tributes to the First Amendment.

On February 14, 1983, Gaye walked out onto the court to sing the national anthem at the NBA All-Star Game. It is one of the most beautiful renditions ever sung by one of the greatest artists who ever lived. He became a voice of protest for justice. The song is an American song sung by an artist expressing his love, disappointments, sadness and hope in a song honoring the country that he honors by protesting. It is beautiful. It is poignant, and therefore likely to be banned in the state of Florida.

The great independent journalist who is an indispensable and trustworthy source of news, Judd Legum, has covered the book banning travesty unfolding in Florida. He further covered the travesty at Twitter that sought to portray accurate reporting as untrue when in fact it was precisely true. In fact, what was untrue was another dystopian manipulation from the ever-erratic Elon Musk.

The banning of all books from all schools until they can be reviewed by state authorities is as grotesque and un-American an act as can be committed. It is beyond a travesty. It is a desecration of America’s most sacred freedom by a low man who seeks power by puffery and bullying, not by persuasion and service. It is yet another example of the extremist danger that continues to fester in America. It is dangerous, and must be opposed. Silence is not an option when politicians threaten teachers with felony prosecution because of a book in a classroom.

The politicians who seek to undermine our most cherished freedoms should be made famous because their fame is our only protection. The American people must be made to understand that the first thing fascists always come for is the books. It’s people next.