Peaceably shows up twice
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Editor,
Accountability can sometimes take longer than we want, but I bet we will know a lot more by 2022. Uncomfortable facts and awkward alliances are being exposed to the light of truth and, hopefully, coming to a neighborhood near you.
Montanans have long held a fundamental belief in personal freedom, liberally embellished with fun, recreation and happiness for living here, as well as community strength and resilience, and a good dose of fiscal conservatism on both sides of the isle at the Legislature. It used to keep all our common interests at the forefront without undue acrimony. That was back when corporations were not people, before the “Big Lie” found funding and politics became not so local anymore.
When the Montana Constitution was updated in the early 1970s, I fell in love with article two, section three: “All persons are born free and have certain inalienable rights. They include the right to a clean and healthful environment … and seeking their safety, health and happiness in all lawful ways.” (The Montana I grew up in.) It goes on to say there are corresponding responsibilities, but they are not spelled out. I am guessing they’d be: don’t pollute or endanger the environment and don’t just do lawful, exercise integrity and be sure to check in with your heart.
Section six: “The people shall have the right to peaceably assemble, petition for redress or peaceably protest governmental action.” Wow! The word peaceably is in the same sentence twice. I think they really meant that. Strangers with semi-automatic weapons in our public spaces and schools feels more like intimidation by thugs. Somehow, we need to separate guns from bullies and people who are not in their right minds. That is the real issue.
Section seven also provokes a thought: “Every person shall be free to speak or publish whatever he will on any subject, being responsible for all abuse of that liberty.” Our words matter. Our actions matter even more. And for a little longer yet, wearing a mask matters.
Debbie Jakovac
Polson
