And isn’t it great that we all do? Even better that we all have the right to express our opinions. When we look back through history, we credit our founding fathers for recognizing our natural rights and incorporating them into the US Constitution. But who inspired them?
Looking back even further than the Constitution of 1787, we find various examples of our natural rights and freedoms. Some may be aware of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy considered to be a precursor to our Constitution. That agreement, known as The Great Law of Peace, dates back to approximately 1100 AD (give or take a few centuries). But few are familiar with a man who is attributed with paving the way for the First Amendment.
Amendment I
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.
It seems during the Salem Witch Trials (1692-1693), a somewhat cantankerous gentleman, a successful businessman and devout Quaker, vociferously opposed the Puritan’s crusade against “witches”. And he had no problem letting everyone know his opinion.
In response to widely voicing his thoughts, the Puritans tried everything they knew to shut down Thomas Maule. Today, he would have been kicked off Twitter (currently known as X) and YouTube, slandered, libeled, been accused of many contrived activities, indicted and thrown in jail. Oh wait! That’s exactly what happened to him. Well not Twitter and YouTube but they did shut down the popular publications of the day where Thomas expressed his opinions.
Hmm, where have I heard this story before?
It seems in voicing his truth, Thomas Maule became very unpopular with those who believed everyone must live by Puritan rules. The Puritans were nervous about Mr. Maule’s growing popularity. He inspired many to question their own thinking. Those accused of being witches in their time, today would be called energy workers. Thomas Maule believed, as long as they did no harm to others, they should be free to practice their craft.
While the First Amendment guarantees our right to self-expression - freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to peaceful assembly and the right to let our government know when we’re not happy with their conduct – we are now at a place where we need new amendments to our current Constitution.
Convention of States Action has been working hard to call a convention under Article V of the United States Constitution. This convention will be restricted to proposing amendments that will impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit its power and jurisdiction, and impose term limits on its officials and members of Congress. Check out how you can get involved in this movement as we make history together.
