The First Amendment Right to Freedom of Speech Without Retribution

Each and every person in our land has the right to say how they feel about anything, and can do so without fear of retribution. This was not the case of one Christian and his business.

Mr. Dan T. Cathy, CEO of a Christian business has received both personal and business protests because of his answer to a question. His answer was nothing special, but nonetheless a backlash came.

There are many people in which I disagree with their views on many issues, including same sex marriage, gun control, and mental health discrimination. I would say on an average day I meet some people that disagree with what I say. There are some in which I don't agree with their opinion.

However, we cannot get angry or feel slighted because my beliefs are different from another's. The educated thing to do is to discuss it, and be respectful of both sides. Because of my religious beliefs, I cannot support issues that circumvent my beliefs.

Same sex marriage is one issue in which I listen to another's viewpoint, but I politely air my opposition. This is how we should respond to each other's core beliefs. No business or person(s) should suffer because they spoke their mind.

They should not have their business effected because they believe differently than someone else. If we do that, then we are no better than a bunch of hoodlums that try and bully a school kid.

If you want to protest someone or something, do so, but do it in a non - confrontational way. This applies to me along with everyone that reads this article.

The great part of this country is our freedom to display our views and beliefs, and to peacefully protest those beliefs that are different from our own. This applies to every person and business including Mr. Cathy and his business.

What I would like to in closing is that in other countries you can be jailed or killed for believing in certain things including Christianity. I just thank God that I can worship my God any way I see fit.

All I can say is that if you like Chicken, then frequent Mr. Cathy's business. If you do not want to eat there, then all I can say is that you are missing a family friendly place to take your family and get some great food.

I chose to write about the hard issues facing out society. As writer's we are duty bound to tackle unpopular topics for to not do so is to not only neglect our duty, but fail our readers.

As always, go out and find a stranger and tell them that both you and God love them.

If you like this article and believe in your rights under the First Amendment please visit my site to read about other issues facing our nation and Christianity. http://www.christianviewstoday.wordpress.com/

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No Gain Without Pain for Workers

Finding work during a recession typically takes time and effort. For some, however, the search for employment can end up costing more than its worth.

Imagine that you are a Romanian national who wants to work as a chef or chambermaid in the UK. This is a perfectly legitimate aspiration, because after all, as an EU citizen you are entitled to seek employment in other EU nations.

You start off by paying a recruitment agency £500 (€620) to find you a job. Upon completing your first month of employment in Britain, you pay another agency the remainder of the finding fee - a further £500.

However, you cannot embark upon your new career in the UK without applying for a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ). The course takes a year to complete and costs at least £800 (€1,000).

The news that you must obtain this qualification is broken to you over the course of a 15-minute premium-rate phone call to the recruitment agency. This sets you back a further £15 (€19).

By now, your quest for employment in the UK has cost you well over €2,000.

The sum is a small fortune, regardless of whether you already have a job in Romania, where the average salary is €450. If you were looking for work in the UK because you couldn't find any at home, the €2,000 would have to be conjured out of loans or precious savings.

Many Romanians and Bulgarians have to rely on recruitment agencies to find employment in the UK because of restrictions imposed by the British government when their countries joined the EU in 2007.

The rules make it technically impossible for a Romanian chef or waiter to knock on the door of a London restaurant and start work the next day. Instead, they have to secure a job before they leave for the UK. Then they have to apply for a specific work permit as well as registering for an NVQ, which eases their way into employment.

The paperwork to get all this sorted is extremely complex. Many recruitment agencies offer to expedite the process, for a charge of around €1,000. The fee is not illegal - but some people are questioning whether it's really fair.

In the construction industry, similar rules have exposed Romanian and Bulgarian workers to exploitation. Over the coming months, I shall uncover more about the effects of these restrictions.

Read more articles by Sorana Stanescu, and many more by award-winning journalists, on the leading English-language news site covering the Balkans; http://www.balkaninsight.com/

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