COLUMN: It’s time to speak up America

This week, I wrote a column that was light hearted and had nothing to do with anything. I had every intent on publishing it, until last week’s column was posted online.

If you remember last week, I wrote “Pattinson doesn’t hold a candle to Lugosi” and if you think this article is an apology, you’re wrong. I stand by my opinions wholeheartedly and no body can change my mind.

But that’s not why I’m writing this column. This column isn’t about the backlash and the horde of Pattinson fans. It’s a column about why this country is so screwed up.

If you look on Barrowjournal. com and go to my latest column, you’ll see comments of people arguing and getting passionate over their love of “Twilight” and Robert Pattinson.

To me, that’s your opinion and you are free to express it. That’s fine; I expressed mine too. We live in a free country where we can do that. You can speak passionately about anything you want. What I find disappointing is that people are not getting this passionate about politics and our country. We have elections coming up, an oil spill crisis in the Gulf, and the Obama administration trying to pass “Cap and Tax.”

We’ve had columns about some of these issues in the past, but looking on the website you’ll notice there are hardly (if any) comments agreeing or disagreeing with them.

It’s important for Americans to have a voice and it’s even more important for us to express it.

There are so many countries out there who don’t have the opportunites we have. And right after Independence Day, I feel this is the perfect time to address the situation.

I know many people are afraid to speak out and deal with the backlash. But when it comes to what you think of the country, you can’t just sit silently and watch things happen.

I personally do not like where this country is heading, and I’ll say it proudly. I have a problem with the government interfering in everything we do. I believe in smaller government and I support the Fairtax.

In the Bill of Rights of the Constitution it says in the First Amendment that we have the right to free speech and “to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Come on people. I know there are people out there just like me who have a problem with the current government. It’s time to speak out.

Last weekend we gathered in celebration of Independence Day. I don’t like saying the Fourth of July because to me, we celebrate the day America declared that we are a free nation.

“Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Consent of the governed. When did we consent for the government to tax us to death? When did we consent to keep spending money we don’t have? When did we consent for the government to involve itself in every aspect of our lives? When did we consent to big government?

Apparently we consented when voters put these idiots into power. (I’m talking about Democrats AND Republicans.) That’s my belief. I know people will agree and disagree with me. That’s the point. Express your opinions. It’s your right.

If I were to say Robert Pattinson is the worst actor in the world or Lady GaGa has no talent, I’d have so many people jumping all over me to defend them. (Please note that I don’t think Pattinson is the worst actor, and I do think Lady GaGa is extremely talented.) But if I say anything about government or politics, people seem to be afraid to stick their necks out. Please prove me wrong America.

Jessica Brown is a photographer for the Barrow Journal. You can reach her at jessica@picsbyjessica.com