The First Amendment: All Smoke and mirrors?

Mommy wants to know if anyone remembers the First Amendment anymore???? The more and more she reads and watches the news, the more she worries that our freedom of expression is disappearing. The latest incident that has Mommy ranting about our seemingly deteriorating freedom of expression is the news about my Mommy's favorite driver, Tony "Smoke" Stewart, who Mommy likes because he's not afraid to say what's on his mind (a lot like me).

Smoke hosts a weekly radio show on the Sirius satellite network. During his show this week, he questioned the validity of certain debris cautions and voiced his opinion that they may have been called intentionally to impact the outcome of the races. His comments were not particularly flattering of NASCAR. When Smoke showed up at Talledega to prepare for this week's race, apparently NASCAR officials drug him to a private special meeting regarding, at least in part, the comments he made on his Sirius satellite radio show. For more on the story, check out NASCAR's website at www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/04/27/tstewart.radio.comments/1.html.

Mommy's concern is not whether or not Smoke's comments about the impact of debris cautions on the races are well-founded but rather the fact that it seems like NASCAR took him to task for airing his opinion on the subject. Our county was founded on several very important principles, one of which is the freedom of expression. Often times, Mommy feels that we forget how lucky we are that we have freedom to express what we think and feel (could you imagine not being able to blog whatever you wanted?). She says that there are lots of people out there in other countries that don't have that luxury. We do because our founding fathers recognized the value of freedom of expression and through the years since then lots of men and women in our military (Grandpa, Mommy's Uncle James, Uncle Mike and Aunt Kim just to name a few) have put their lives on the line to protect that freedom. (Thank you all very much - we sincerely appreciate it!)

As a result, it troubles her very much that the people in our country don't seem to value that freedom like they ought to and don't do what they can to protect it domestically. Everyday it seems like someone else is told that they don't have the right to express an opinion. While we may or may not agree with what other people say, we each have the right to express our opinion to anyone who may care to listen. If we don't like someone else's opinion, we have the right to say so and offer our own opinion. For in that debate of ideas and beliefs lies the rich reward of intellectual growth.

Restrictions on free expression not only place limitiations on our ability to express our individuality, but hamper our ability to progress both as inviduals and as a nation. The free flow of ideas is essential if our democracy is to thrive. Everytime we limit free expression because we're concerned it might offend someone's sensibilites or, heaven forbid, someone's pocketbook (afterall, NASCAR is a business like any other), we willing give up a little more of the freedom that makes our country so great and that so many have given the ultimate sacrifice to protect. Regarding that, I agree with Mommy; that it's a crying shame. Meeeoooowwww!

So shame on you NASCAR for calling Smoke on the carpet for expressing his opinion. Whether his opinion was right or wrong, he's entitled to it and you shouldn't go trampling on anyone's First Amendment right to express their own opinion. If you didn't like what he had to say, you should have come out with your own statement, posted something on your website, or expressed your opinion in any other forum you wished, as is your First Amendment right. It's such a shame that we'll never know what great changes in the sport may have come from such a debate. Shame, shame, shame on you NASCAR.

As for you Smoke, all Mommy and I can say is "Go Smoke Go." You go right on airing your opinions and spurring debate among millions of NASCAR fans. You go right on driving your heart out and bring home the big trophy from Talledega to show them who's boss.

Go Smoke Go!

Okay, so I'll get off Mommy's soapbox now.