What rights do we have? Wikipedia states “While no human rights instrument or national constitution grants the absolute right to protest, such a right may be a manifestation…, the right of freedom of speech.” The first amendment gives us who are legitimate USA citizens the right to speak freely, to assemble peaceably and to petition our grievances. Those rights also protect legitimate businesses to set wages as long as they stay within governmental guidelines. To take it to an extreme, a business owner has the right to pay a worker an equal amount whether they work 10 hours in a day or just one hour in a day. It may not seem fair to the person working all day but the owner has the right. In this day of instant recognition and sensationalism, I wonder just how much is driven by integrity versus political polarity when I see entertainers trying to influence me.
Just last week, we are engrossed in the destructive forces of hurricanes, earthquakes, and threats from foreign maniacs. We seem to live on breaking news whether real or perceived. Just how much skin in the game is there to stand before a paying crowd and make a statement? The symbol of the cross reminds us of the sacrifice one person made to free us all from the debt of sin. Likewise, the symbol of the flag reminds us of the sacrifice many paid for our freedom. Why should we use sacred symbols to respond to what they perceive as an injustice? Do we have the right to protest? Yes, but, I wonder just how many protestors really know why they protest and would they do it without the press? I despise paid performers wasting my time. If they want to protest, do it on there own time, in my opinion. We are all entitled to our own opinions but not entitled to be resentful when we have no rights to be resentful. Jesus said in Matthew 20 in a parable of the vineyard owner at verse 13, “Friend, I did you no wrong…Take what belongs to you and go…Don’t I have the right to do what I want with what belongs to me? Or are you resentful because I’m generous?” In Philippians 1, Paul questioned whether he should stay in the working fields for Christ or go home to Him. He choice to stay where planted and work without protest or showmanship.
I believe God’s grace is given to us all equally whether we work 10 hours or 1 hour in his vineyard. I believe we all have a right to protest but do it with integrity not showmanship.
T