First Amendment - better read it again

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.


This is the one amendment you hear the most about. Freedom of speech! What about my First Amendment Rights??!!??


Read it again. The part about speech. Do you see where it mentions your right to speak on television? In the paper? On the radio? No? Me neither.

Before Timothy McVeigh was executed in 2001, a television interview with him was requested. When the request was denied, his camp declared that the First Amendment gave them the right to one. No, no it doesn't. That amendment, so often sighted, is often misquoted. Yes, it gives him the right to say whatever he wants. True. It does NOT give him the right to say whatever he wants on television.

NO RIGHTS TO TELEVISION.

Recently, Sally Field was cut short by the Fox Television Network during her Anti-War statement at the Emmy Awards. Many in the news have claimed that they violated her First Amendment Rights. Not so. Again, she can say whatever she wants to about the war, same as you or I can. She just doesn't have the right to say them on television. She can stand in her front yard, at the grocery store, in line at the post office, getting her hair done. . .wherever. But there is no provision in that amendment for the right to a television interview. No one abridged her freedom of speech. She still said what she wanted, and the audience in the theater heard her.

This peeves me for many reasons. The main reason is that you hear it so much. People hold it up like a badge of honor, or more like a free pass. It's a "Get on Television Free" card. You MUST let me be on t.v. and say what I want to say. It's my right!

Nope. Not your right. Perhaps if you're lucky, you will accomplish this, but it is 100% not guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States of America. Amen.