Thanksgiving and blessings on all ... especially for freedoms, including freedom of speech ... Free Birds ... college memories of LSU Free Speech Alley tied in to Twitter ....
Pic: Public Domain
First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
“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.”
I recently had a flashback about these cherished freedoms to when I was a freshman at LSU back in 1977 and a roommate with my best friend Scott.
Here we were transplants from Uptown New Orleans … both the Most Holy Name of Jesus Grammar School grads, but Scott went to Jesuit and I to De La Salle!
Once, when we were walking towards the LSU Union, we saw someone standing at the top of the steps and heard him speaking loud about some issue near and dear to his heart.
Yes, there were jeers and cheers echoing off and on from the onlookers – and even from both Scott and me, since “DLS Cavaliers” & “Jesuit Blue Jays” had differences of opinion at times.
But Scott and me found a way to still respectfully listen without violence - just like those others in attendance at that LSU Union gathering.
Just at that moment, I happened to spy an eagle flying overhead – what a thrill that was as it reminded me then of the origins for our great country and that cherished 1st Amendment to the Constitution!
This “Free Speech Alley,” as we found out it was called, provided a great forum for diversity of thoughts to be shared with respectful tolerance – however heated it may have gotten at times and without any violence.
Fast Forward to the here and now … with social media platforms and spectrums galore that were not even imagined to be able to be available to us back in 1977.
Why are some folks uncomfortable listening to those who have a difference of opinion ... that's how we all learn and grow?
Thanks, Elon, for helping us all be Free Bird Change Agents on Twitter and everywhere.
Recently, it has been so good to see some free birds flying all around, even in China, and encouraging all folks to speak their minds and hearts.
And we're not going to let the "Apple" in our eyes restrain us ... no matter how much we might be tempted to keep taking from "the tree of misinformation & disinformation."
So in this wonderful New Year season with hope and the anticipation of my own re-birth in the Risen Christ, I especially enjoy sitting in our backyard and hearing cardinals, blue jays, sparrows and other birds TWEETING away in a marvelous, diverse melody of sweet harmony and sharing peace and goodwill to all.
Like the great Lynyrd Skynyrd song, may we be a “Free Bird” and not be compelled by misinformation & disinformation - cause actually the
“Lord knows, I CAN (be a) change (agent!)
Lord help me, I CAN (be a) change (agent!)
Lord, I CAN (be a) change (agent!)
Won't you fly high, FREE BIRD, yeah!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LwcvjNJTuM
KJPH - PRAYER CARE, LLC
LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
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