Mirsky: To 'Live Free or Die' Requires Freedom of the Press

This is not a partisan political article. I am talking here about something that protects people and political activists of all stripes: We all need freedom of the press to survive as participants in this American Democracy.

We can’t take our Democracy for granted, and we have to be vigilant, ready to fight back, whenever anyone in power decides to try to take away our rights.

The reason we have a Second Amendment is to make sure that civilians retain the power to protect their rights as stated in the U.S. Constitution, which includes the First Amendment.

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press and freedom of religion.

These freedoms are important, they are vital, without these freedoms, New Hampshire’s proud official motto, that we will LIVE FREE OR DIE, would have no meaning.

The United States of America was founded as a place for people to come from all lands to practice their religions, all different religions, in peace and freedom.

Our Constitution was drafted and enacted by people who did not trust politicians. Because we should never accept what a politician says without question, we need a free press to explore and determine the truth.

The truth that is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is not one person’s truth, it is not one President’s “truth”. What is protected is the process of allowing all voices to be heard so that in the end the People can decide what they should believe, from a wide variety of competing choices.

So don’t let anyone tell you, or any reporter, or any TV news person, or any news source of any kind, to shut up.

The First Amendment was enacted to prevent our Government from shutting us up. It is, after all, Our Government.