Freedom of Religion

Rastafarians!

Should Rastafarians be able to legally smoke marijuana in the United States as part of their religious practice??

It is definitely not right, but Rastafarians are able to legally smoke marijuana based on their religious practice because of The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by congress in 1993. This law blocks the federal goverment from unjustifiably infringing on a person's practice or religion. This law does not protect the importation of marijuana even if it is for religious use. But, according to the Ninth Circuit, while the practice of this religion sanctions the smoking of marijuana, the religion doesn't sanction the importing of marijuana.

This is actually an article about a man that was at an airport and got caught with Marijuana. This man claimed his religion was Rastafarian.. Read it to see what happens!

http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/news/rfra_rasta.htm

What are Rastafarians? Where did it begin? What exactly does it include?

The Rastafarian religion originated in the 1930's by Marcus Garvey. He directed the philosophical ideologies which eventually directed into the Rastafarian movement.

There are 6 Rastafarian principles that most should follow.

• Have Hatred for the white race


• Give revenge on the white race for their wickedness


• Superiority of the black race


• Prepare to go back to Africa


• Believing that the Emperor Haile Selassi is the only ruler of the black people.

A physical feature that sets the Rastifarian religion apart from most groups is the wearing of their hair in the dreadlocks form
So.me information about the religion is here:
http://www.rasta-man.co.uk/religion.htm

Freedom of Speech??

Freedom to say anything at any time? hmmm.. maybe not!

There's a Time and Place for Everything!

Civil Liberties gives us the freedom of speech. The freedom of speech is a good thing to have but if not used properly, it can be affective. There is a time and place for everything, meaning that there are times where you can say what you want and times when its best you just keep your thoughts to yourself. This is out of a matter of respect. There are limits that people should have to what they can't and can say.




We thought that the videos that were posted were very disturbing and nauseating. It makes you almost speechless because you are so disturbed, and it's hard to know what to say. We believe in the freedom of speech, and how everyone should be able to express their mind but, sometimes, things that are hurtful and mean shouldn't be tolerated. People shouldn't have the freedom of speech if they are going to obuse it by offending others. It was out of line for that family to go to funerals of the loss soldiers and say what they did. Friends and families that were at the funeral, greiving for their loved ones definitely did NOT appreciate that family interupting the funeral service and disrespecting them. This family wasn't only being rude, but it was inappropriate. The family wasn't even making progress. No one agreed with their beliefs. Most drivers that passed flicked them off or cursed to the family because it made them so angry. Obviously no one agreed with the family in that video. It is definitely okay for people to have their opinions, and to believe what they want to believe, but their beliefs don't need to be expressed in a mean, and cruel way. What they did was crossing the line. The video upset both Sara and I and we would never even think of participating in any event like this.


Solution:
We came up with a suggestion to any who has crazy, hectic beliefs and wants them to be expressed!

If a person, or group is wanting to express something mean, weird, or disturbing like the people in the video, then they can create a blog, showing all about their religion and beliefs, and post it on a google site. By posting this, they can be happy because the group or individual will feel like they are "sharing their beliefs" or "spreading the word". Also, whoever wants to join this can, but it doesn't have to affect other people that want nothing to do with it.
Great Idea RIGHT!!