My Answer to Saturday's Incident in Virginia

I originally posted this to my facebook. but I wanted to share it here as well. 

I've debated writing this.. and I'm sure the repercussions will be that I am “unfriend”  over it, probably before many even read it in it's entirety. The outcome will be that some will call me a racist (or whatever choice word you decide is in style today) and that I'm spreading hate speech simply because you don't agree with what I have to say. So be it.

I've seen so many people accusing people of defending the Natzi and other white supremacy organizations following Saturday's events. If you don't immediately say that the Unite the Right rally was wrong and show your support to the counter protesters, then you are as bad as the Alt-Right organizations.

What many don't seem to understand is that NOBODY is defending the Alt-right mentality (with exception to those who swing Alt-Right). I'm in so many various groups of different political orientation and the vast majority find the beliefs of the Alt-right despicable, as any sane person should.

But what many are not realizing is that while we're not defending the beliefs of the Alt-Right, we ARE defending their right to free speech.

We the People have a right to free speech. It's protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution as well as by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It does not matter if people agree or disagree with the message being shared but the right still applies. Saturday, a group of people had their First Amendment right stopped and that is what people are upset about and is what people are defending.

I don't swing Alt-right. I find that I align conservatively when it comes to politics. I believe all should have equal rights, regardless of race, gender, sexuality or religious beliefs – no rights should infringe upon the rights of others. I do not believe any one group is superior to another, as the Alt-Right believes. I also do not believe I owe any sort of restitution or should suffer infringements on my own rights in order to cater to another group (as suggested by the Alt-Left). ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, both in the eyes of this country and the eyes of my God.

I do not have to like what any one particular group says. But I do support their right to say it, so long as it is done legally. I do not like certain groups coming out and saying things like fry cops like bacon, as I personally support law enforcement, however, I do recognize their right to say it. I completely despise what the Westboro Baptist Church stands for, but I recognize their right to spout their filth. Because of this, I do not go out to attend rallies of those groups who's beliefs I don't agree with to counter protest because they have the right to spout off their stupidity.

You can't take the rights away from one group because you don't agree with them. If you take away the rights from one, you'll take away the rights of all. Sure, it's easy to say that the Alt-right shouldn't be allowed to spout their hate but then what? There are groups that feel supporting Law Enforcement is hate speech, so then do we ban vocal support of LEOs? What about those who feel the military is unnecessary and are warmongerers? Do we make supporting our military hate speech to apease them? It's a very slippery slope when you justify eliminating the rights of one group – you do so at the expense of any others that another group disagrees with. Rights are not based on feelings. You may feel that a group is hateful – many may agree with you. I may agree with you. But again, rights are not based on feelings.

The Unite The Right rally had their right to assemble infringed upon (multiple times).

So, yes, in a way, I'm supporting the Natzi groups. But I'm also supporting Black Lives Matter when they peacefully assemble.. I'm also supporting AntiFa, when they choose to peacefully assemble. I'm also supporting Back the Blue. I'm also supporting Westboro Baptist Church. I may only agree with one group out of all of those, but I still support their right to assemble peacefully, so long as they don't overstep that right and cross over into assault and battery on others. Once they cross that line and instigate an assault on others just because they disagree with them... well, then they are no longer peacefully assembling, are they, and then point is rendered moot.