[Wisha Haddan H3]

This is a good debate. I see good points all around and some I disagree with, and that's cool. I love that we can disagree with the politicians and not get arrested, kidnapped or put on a death list.

That's the best thing about America ... we're free to think what we want and speak our mind. We can consider all sides of an issue and make our own decisions with information from a variety of sources. It's our right and responsibility to listen to different points of view and agree or disagree as we see fit.

But to oppress or ban opposing viewpoints is the road to totalitarianism. Dictatorships are full of blind, obedient patriotic citizens who don't think for themselves, use only one source of information and follow a single-minded ideology. That path leads to the antithesis of democracy and freedom - fascism, jihad, and crusade.

There's a difference between "majority rules" and "might makes right". Even within a democracy, when people blindly follow their leaders, their party or their own ideology, they disrespect what democracy exists for. Ultimately, although the US was founded with a political structure of checks, balances and democracy, it's only as democratic as the people who think for themselves, stay informed, consider opposing viewpoints, make up their own mind and vote their own conscience. Anything else is the slippery slope toward totalitarianism.