Stopping censorship and suppression involves diligence, involvement, and interrogation. We must remain aware of ongoing efforts that might snatch away our ability to express ourselves by print, media, or at the ballot box. Vigilance is necessary because First Amendment thieves quickly pivot from overt means to covert efforts by lying and obfuscating about their intentions. Be suspicious of groups using buzzwords and poorly defined terms that no one understands. Probe for specifics, and don’t be satisfied until evidence is provided because assertions without evidence are simply opinions or flat-assed lies by people who should know better but often don’t care. Alternative facts aren’t facts at all, just Orwellian Truth Ministry lies repackaged to divert the attention of the ignorant masses from watching as their First Amendment rights are scrubbed out of existence.

Hold leaders accountable for their actions, either directly or indirectly. If they advocate for taking away rights, ask, “For what reason should I allow others to tell me what to do?” Even if you disagree with the rights someone else has, question yourself as to what overarching rights and privileges allow you to justify taking someone else’s rights away. Are you leading, taking control of your thoughts and beliefs, or being led down a dark alley by people who not only don’t care what you think but won’t care what happens to you if they make a mistake?

Beware of those wrapping themselves in the flag. Flag worship has been done before in other countries by groups of people who should have known better. Patriotism is deceptively noble but often the last refuge of the scoundrel^[1]. To what end does your patriotism lead – toward justice and equality – or toward violence, oppression, and hatred? Our Constitution is a living, breathing document, the framework for everything that matters in the United States. We would do well to protect the rights it grants.

There are organizations dedicated to protecting the First Amendment. Consider what they do. You may not like everything they support, but they aren’t trying to take away your civil liberties.

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): The ACLU is the largest and most prominent civil liberties organization in the United States. It was founded in 1920 and has been at the forefront of the fight for civil liberties ever since. The ACLU has defended the First Amendment rights of people of all backgrounds, including journalists, protesters, and artists. https://www.aclu.org/
• National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC): The NCAC is a non-profit organization that works to protect freedom of expression. It was founded in 1974 and has a long history of defending the First Amendment rights of artists, writers, and journalists. The NCAC also educates the public about the importance of freedom of expression. https://ncac.org/
• PEN America: PEN America is a literary and human rights organization that works to defend free expression. It was founded in 1922 and has a global reach. PEN America has defended the First Amendment rights of writers and journalists worldwide. https://pen.org/
• Freedom Forum Institute: The Freedom Forum Institute is a non-profit organization that promotes freedom of speech and the press. It was founded in 1991 and has several programs focusing on the First Amendment. The Freedom Forum Institute also publishes the First Amendment Center, a resource for information about the First Amendment. https://www.freedomforum.org/
• Institute for Free Speech: The Institute for Free Speech is a non-profit organization that defends the First Amendment rights of individuals and organizations. It was founded in 1999 and has several programs focusing on the First Amendment. The Institute for Free Speech also publishes the First Amendment Watch, a blog covering First Amendment issues. https://www.ifs.org/

However, whether the First Amendment survives depends on whether you value it enough to protect, defend, and advocate on its behalf. If you must wrap yourself in anything, let it be the Constitution because that is where our allegiance should be directed. Not a piece of cloth.

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^[1] This quote comes from a book by William Hazlitt, an English essayist and critic, published in 1818.

Hazlitt wrote about the French Revolution and was critical of how people used patriotism to justify violence and oppression. He said that “patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel” because it can be used to justify any behavior, no matter how bad.

Many people have used the quote since Hazlitt’s time to criticize the misuse of patriotism. It is a reminder that patriotism should not be used to justify violence or oppression but should be used to promote justice and equality.

Here are some other people who have said similar things about patriotism:

• George Orwell: “The nationalist is one who thinks his country is better than other countries because he was born in it.”
• Bertrand Russell: “Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because it is your own.”
• Noam Chomsky: “Patriotism is, ultimately, about self-deception.”

These quotes suggest that patriotism can be a dangerous and harmful ideology. It can lead to violence, oppression, and hatred. It is essential to be critical of patriotism and use it for good, not evil.