Will Grigg?s Liberty Minute

April 1, 2010

The Book of Isaiah condemns those who make a person ?an offender for a word.? Thanks to hate crimes laws and other spurious enactments, what Isaiah condemned is public policy.

A roadside sign near Acampo, California refers to President Obama as ?niggardly,? an adjective referring to stinginess. The critical expression is unmistakably a play on a very offensive epithet, but is not itself a term of racial abuse. In this case, the sign ? which contained another word play involving a vulgar expression -- criticized the Obama administration?s economic policies as inimical to small business.

The sign was taken down after it was criticized by the owner of the property on which it was displayed. According to a local news account,A ?San Joaquin County Sheriff?s investigators documented the scene ? and said they would be contacting federal authorities to determine whether a crime was committed.?

This would not only make someone an offender for a word, it would punish him for something he didn?t say.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.