Land of the free?Name withheld to spare the author - ed.People used to come to America to escape persecution. Boy, have times changed.
Disagree with the administration? Not here. Want to marry your same-sex partner? Not here. Want to decide end-of-life issues for yourself? Not here. Want to allow smoking in the business you own? Not here. Want control of your own body? Not here. Want freedom from religion or freedom of religion? Not here. Want freedom of speech? Not here.
This country is becoming a frightening place to live. People are forcing their beliefs on others and stomping on the Bill of Rights.
I have one word to describe the content of this letter: nonsense. I don't normally reference letters to the Strib, but this one just annoys me to no end. Look at the almost complete stream of nonsense in this letter:
People used to come to America to escape persecution. Boy, have times changed.
They still do. About 703,000 in fiscal year 2003, not counting the illegal immigrants. Source link:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/statistics/yearbook/2003/ImmTable01FY03.xls
Disagree with the administration? Not here.
You felt free to get this published in a pretty good sized regional newspaper, so I guess that you are not expecting jack-booted Republican thugs to bash in your door and haul you off to a Bush re-education camp. Now if this a particular fantasy of yours I'm sure it can be arranged to send some faux-Nazi types to your home to give you a thrill, however.
Want to marry your same-sex partner? Not here.
How is this a change? Same-sex partners have never been allowed to marry here, until some arrogant judges on the MA Supreme Judicial Court decreed otherwise. Whether it is a good idea or not is open to question, but same-sex marriage is a departure from the norm in this country, and if it became the norm would be a good example of how the country has changed.
Want to decide end-of-life issues for yourself? Not here.
A reference to the Terri Schiavo case, I expect. Let me point out one thing here. The crux of the matter was that Ms. Schiavo was unable to decide the issue for herself. The issue was who would decide, which in this country has always been contentious. Not a good example to make the point.
Want control of your own body? Not here.
No doubt a reference to abortion. Unless it was done in secret, I am unaware that Roe v. Wade had been overturned. Unfortunately.
Want freedom from religion or freedom of religion? Not here.
This is probably another reference to the Schiavo case. In what has it affected freedom of religion? I would argue none, unless one counts panicked editorials from the Star Tribune proclaiming religious people have taken over the government.
Want to allow smoking in the business you own? Not here.
Yes. An actual point.
Want freedom of speech? Not here.
The fact this letter was printed contradicts this one. The writer's examples in every case except one actually contradict his/her case. Enough said.
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