We’ve heard the story of the frog that rests in cold water on a stove. As that water boils, the frog remains in the water as the water temperature slowly rises. This slow death for the frog would certainly not have happened if the frog was placed in boiling water. It would surely sense the danger and immediately jump out.
Unfortunately, many of our freedoms are being taken away, slowly without even the hint of something coming, until it is too late and the deed is finished. We would certainly object if it came at once and we would immediately jump into action to prevent it. However, because freedoms are taken away or threatened slowly, we hardly notice.
Let me give you two examples of where your freedom is directly being threatened:
First is House Amendment 1204. From Congress.gov, this amendment is described as:
Amendment sought to prohibit warrantless searches of government databases for the communications of U.S. persons and to prohibit government agencies from mandating data security vulnerabilities in products or services for surveillance purposes.
According to the FreedomWorks article by Adam Brandon, “The amendment would require the NSA and other intelligence agencies to follow due process and obtain a warrant to collect the communications of American citizens.” Additionally, the amendment “also prohibits government agencies from requesting that U.S. companies build security vulnerabilities into their hardware or software in order to make it easier for the government to access them.”
Although this amendment that protects the Fourth Amendment against illegal search and seizure has twice passed the House, this time, if failed. And Barbara Comstock voted to kill it.
Second is House Resolution 257 which purports to condemn hate speech. From Congress.gov, the resolution in part reads:
Condemns hate crime and any other form of racism, religious or ethnic bias, discrimination, incitement to violence, or animus targeting a minority in the United States. Affirms that the United States stands united in condemning hate and evil in all forms. Rejects hate-motivated crime as an attack on the fabric of society and the ideals of pluralism and respect.
Although it sounds nice to outlaw discrimination, this resolution would forfeit part of your First Amendment right to Free Speech.
According to an opinion piece in FairfaxTimes.com, this resolution is similar to one not voted on that specifically condemns “violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims. It is a different side of the same coin: an attempt to undermine Free Speech protections so that Islam cannot be criticized.”
When one votes for a particular resolution, they would agree with that resolution. But when one introduces that resolution, this becomes a particular belief position that the person has. They must have an overwhelming passion on that resolution – enough that they would personally bring it to the floor and read it into the record.
HR 257 was introduced by Barbara Comstock herself. The FairfaxTimes.com piece sums up nicely, “Rep. Comstock’s resolution is a dangerous, undefined attack on First Amendment protections enshrined in the Constitution, specific protections which are incompatible with the Islamic doctrine of Sharia Law.”
It is unfortunate that the sitting Republican congresswoman is at odds with the Constitution. This is a dangerous place to be, if you wish to represent those who actually do support the Constitution. It remains very troubling to know that she put her hand on the bible and swore to defend the very Constitution that she is so willing to restrict and limit.
I can only suspect that she is hoping that the frog doesn’t realize that the water is beginning to boil around it. This brings great news. The people are noticing this slow erosion of our freedoms and the rising temperature of the threat to our country. They are jumping out the pot.
