It IS great that we have those freedoms, that we have the opportunity to voice our opinions, and not be afraid of our government. However, it seems that the "freedom of religion" fights where people are fighting to get all religion out of public places is really causing a lack of freedoms in some cases. Like when we can't say "Merry Christmas" because it might offend someone. I remember a while back when one of my business teachers made a very good point, one that stuck with all of us. In a class of 50 students, he asked who knew the ten commandments...two students raised their hand. Then he asked who knew the big-mac song...about half the class. Then he stated, "Ha!! America is not based on religion any more, it's based on consumerism!! Instead of being offended that the ten commandments are up in our courts, we should be offended that there are things like smoking and fast food allowed to be advertised because they can kill (this was before the big court fights, etc), but we sit and focus on getting rid of the things that are good." He went on to say that he wasn't really a religious guy, but it didn't make sense to him where most of the laws of religion (like the 10 commandments) are out there to make people better, and we fight them; yet, there are things we defend as freedom of speech that is vulgar, crude and disrespectful (for example, when a local court decided that pornography was a freedom). People can curse at me, and claim freedom of speech, but if I use a scripture to show a point, I'm not free to talk, I'm breaking the freedom of religion law.

We definately need a balance.