How many rights do you have? You should check, because it might not be as many today as it was a few years ago, or even a few months ago. Somepeople I talk to are not concerned that police will execute a searchwarrant without knocking or that they set up roadblocks and stop andinterrogate innocent citizens. They do not regard these as greatinfringements on their rights. But when you put current events together,there is information that may be surprising to people who have not yet beenconcerned: The amount of the Bill of Rights that is under attack isalarming. Let's take a look at the Bill of Rights and see which aspects arebeing pushed on or threatened. The point here is not the degree of eachattack or its rightness or wrongness, but the sheer number of rights thatare under attack. Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, orprohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and topetition the Government for a redress of grievances. ESTABLISHING RELIGION: While campaigning for his first term, GeorgeBush said "I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, norshould they be considered patriots." Bush has not retracted, commented on,or clarified this statement, in spite of requests to do so. According toBush, this is one nation under God. And apparently if you are not withinBush's religious beliefs, you are not a citizen. Federal, state, and localgovernments also promote a particular religion (or, occasionally,religions) by spending public money on religious displays.FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION: Robert Newmeyer and Glenn Braunstein were jailedin 1988 for refusing to stand in respect for a judge. Braunstein says thetradition of rising in court started decades ago when judges enteredcarrying Bibles. Since judges no longer carry Bibles, Braunstein says thereis no reason to stand --...
