A friendly debate…

This is a friendly debate I had with someone here on Substack recently for their safety and out of respect I will not post their username.

If you want respect, you must show respect. Please read on and for those who believe giving me hateful responses. I hope this exchange will help you understand more about who I am and more importantly what I believe.

“Gods of old bless America and blessed journey to you all.”

The Traveler:

“I think that you can be both patriotic and critical of your country, wouldn’t you agree? The constitution was written to give us (American citizens) the right to speak out against injustices should they ever happen. Saying you don’t like America you don’t get to stay here does not sit with me right.”

Pagan Nomad:

“My family immigrated here on both sides of my family.

We had to go through many hard times to earn our right to be American. One thing that is in the naturalization process is you must put aside any loyalties to where you were born and honor the nation you are about to become a citizen of. You will be denied citizenship if you don’t and if you do cause any harm to a citizen after you become a citizen. Under the constitution you will be de-naturalized and returned to your prior nation.

If I were to visit your home and said I hate you and you and your family should die. Wouldn’t you call the police and have me removed from your home? You see I was learn had to learn the constitution cover to cover. You have the right to protest. But there are clear limits of what that covers. One of them is inciting violence which it spells out quite well. Anyone saying ‘,death to America’ or ANY citizen is a violation of the constitutional rights of every citizen who lives here.

I have no issues if you dislike a political party or politician and any policy they make. You can peacefully assemble and voice what grievances you have. That is your right. Also if you don’t like it you can vote to have someone removed from office. No one gets hurt or killed. When I see foreign born citizens or visitors hating my home and wishing death on my people. It’s a slap in my face and it’s as though they are pissing on my families graves. Which many have died to defend this nation. The sacrifice is never to taken lightly.

Sighs… ‘Your heart is in the right place my friend. I know it hurts, I also appreciate your honesty. It’s very brave to write a reply to one such as I. In my religious belief hostility goes both ways. The hosts duty is to provide shelter for his guests, give them food and drink. The host must also set rules the guests must follow. The guess must respect their host and their family, keep the home of their host and the room they gave you clean, don’t make any unreasonable demands, don’t vandalize their property, and above all else. Don’t over stay your welcome. This also extends to their communities and the very nation your host calls home. To reject the most welcoming nation in the world and turn it into the same place you fled from. Is being a bad guest. I was born here and my family told me how great my nation was compared to where they came from.’

I hope you can understand now.

Also no hard feelings. I may disagree with your words. But in Zeus’s name I will die to protect your right to say it.

Take care…”