It's My Opinion Stupid and no small Thing

Dear America,

opinion is everything.
and then again, it's not.

Either way, in this country, the United States of America, we have worshiped the inherent right to have our own opinion and then speak it or keep it totally to ourself.

Dick Cheney voiced an opinion this past weekend. Does he speak for all of us, half of us, a third of us, or none of us?    IF you answered NONE you would be correct.  For in all things, he can only speak for himself.....just like the rest of us.  [Unless of course, we have been given the direct mandate to speak on behalf of someone, a group, an agenda, and so on -- we can only speak as one person's opinion.]

Now, if you asked me, I would say Dick got it all wrong.  His perception is way different than mine.  Way.

Sarah Palin saved McCain's old progressive hide.  And if you can't see it, then perhaps you may be connected at the hip to the problem -- you know, as part of the thin-skinned posse content with running with the cowards of the republican establishment.

Obama was about to destroy him [McCain] and whatever stellar reputation he came with until that phenom rising, dressed in a skirt and lipstick, took command of the situation.  While if we go there, in my opinion, I have no doubt about her capabilities as president, if need be.  But that opinion is moot now isn't it.

What crushed Sarah Palin --  in the vicious aftermath -- is jealousy, misrepresentation, liberal lambasting from all sides, false narratives, and just total lack of courage under fire; and not for anything Sarah did.

Again -- the opinion is all mine -- on this day with the London Olympics in full swing-- may  God save the keen.
 
Is Dick entitled to saying what is on his mind, to speak his truth?  you betcha.

Now meandering into another realm of our inherent right to an opinion......

Chick-fil-A

First, read this.

"We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that.”  Dan Cathy, president of Chick-fil-A

In this country -- we don't all bundle.  We have a right to uphold tradition in every way, or not.

And yet, almost immediately, Cathy's personal opinion was attacked.  In Boston, in Chicago, and now even with the mayor of San Diego joining in with the anti-first amendment chorus -- Cathy has been seriously accosted by high-ranking city officials just for answering questions and sharing his opinion and speaking his truth for an article in The Baptist Press.

Considering the comments were made in an interview with an outfit like The Baptist Press -- should Cathy's opinion be any real surprise?  I mean seriously.   A conservative paper interviewing a conservative businessman, and just assuming he just might be baptist and all...

But in reality -- the way this opinion plays out -- it's just that, his opinion.  The franchise vows not to treat anyone discriminatingly or disparagingly, whether as a guest or employee.    [but all you go ahead and picket all you want....guess you have a right to do that....]

just imagine the number of people who got a tickle up their leg when they heard Cathy speak with such conviction....hmmmm...
ah yes, the world may never know, considering the media censorship of the true depth and breadth of opinion these days....and considering the prevailing belief that you are a bigot if you believe deep down that traditional marriage and traditional family values still holds a certain amount of reverence for yourself.

Oh, and here's another opinion -- from Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com.  It's an opinion cast in millions of dollars [like 2.5 million].

I wonder -- putting your money where your mouth is like that is pretty astounding; it sort of makes a statement, doesn't it.   I wonder if Amazon.com will lose any customers?  I wonder if people will picket it on line, like boycott it or something?  Or, I wonder if even more people will be drawn to go there?   It doesn't matter.

It's still just his opinion and Bezos is fully entitled to it.

For some reason, Bezos is allowed to share his opinion, yet Cathy is not.

But if we really pick it all apart, it gets down to religious persecution along with a serious thwarting of one's right to speak freely, normally associated with regimes synonymous with free radicals and communists and fascists.

so let's have a little refresher, shall we --

Amendment I 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment

of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

or abridging the freedom of free speech, 

or of the press; or the

right of the people peaceably to assemble,

and to petition the government

for redress of grievances. 

and I can't wait for a Chick-fil-A to open near me.


Make it a Good Day, G