Do We Really Have Freedom of Speech?

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I don't know how many of you realize how many laws have been going into effect in the past few years that limits our freedom of speech but little by little, our constitutional right to freedom of speech is being denied. I realize that it's wrong to treat another person with hatred but you cannot change how someone feels by telling them what they can and cannot say. Communist Russia tried it for 70 years and eventually they lost their battle to silence the people of Russia. This nation was created to allow its citizens certain freedoms and inalienable rights. Unfortunately, there are several groups out there who think they can stop someone from hating or hurting others by forbidding them to say certain things. While I believe it's wrong to hurt someone with words or actions, no one can change someone who hates with a law. The other side of that is that with each law passed that takes away our freedoms to be who we are even if it doesn't agree with the popular notions, all of our freedoms are in jeopardy. Freedom of speech is the most crucial of those rights. If we cannot speak up when we think something is wrong, then what's going to happen when a small group of people decide that they want to rule this country and charm their way into the presidency and the legislature and start passing laws that forbid us to be free? If you don't think it can happen, I'd suggest you look at our current legislators and what they are attempting these days. For one thing, they have a bill they are trying to pass that will forbid certain lobbying groups from passing on information to certain types of groups so they aren't aware of what's happening in Congress. If you don't think that's a dangerous law, then what is? They may start by forbidding one group but whose group is next to be silenced? The problem is that too many Americans look only at the way a bill is written and not at the way it can be perceived and changed over time to accomplish another goal entirely. I realize I'm being somewhat vague but I'm doing it on purpose. I want people in this country to start paying attention to the spirit of a bill instead of simply what it says. You have to realize that when that bill winds up in a court of law in a lawsuit, which it will, the bill will then be "interpreted" by judges and lawyers with other agendas whether that is in favor of how you believe or not. There have been at least four bills I know of in the recent legislature that could be very dangerous for freedom of speech and other rights we have when they end up in the court system. Don't be naive enough to think that people like Ted Kennedy or even Rudy Giulliani (sp?) are going to look out for your rights. Besides, they aren't the ones you will have to be concerned about. They know that if they can pass certain bills, that when those bills come into a court room, all they have to do is use their influence to persuade a judge or attorney to slightly misuse the wording of the bill to give that bill a whole different meaning. I've worked in the legal field for over 20 years and I've seen them do it over and over again. Even in my own situation, when I was evicted a few years ago. I went into court armed with photos of a broken down complex and a witness and the judge, who was oriental, sided with the landlord who was also oriental and ignored everything I had. When I got back to the apartment complex that afternoon, the health department was there making an inspection and verified almost everything I tried to tell the judge yet what I said fell on deaf ears. The next time a judge in your area is up for election, you need to know who you're voting for and what they believe because if you simply vote for whoever suits you at the moment, just remember that you could find yourself in front of that judge and they could decide against you. Don't take our freedom of speech lightly. Stand up and tell the legislature that we aren't willing to give up our rights to their agendas.