As chicken-Americans they have struggled through the american revolution,civil, war world wars,the depression the civil rights movement.Isn't it time our feathered friends were extended some sort of freedoms and government representation?
211030
without researching it. i suspect they have rights perhaps outlined by the food and drug administration. and certainly by local ordinances concerning animal cruelty. the question itself is ridicules and without merit. \n\nOKLAHOMA last year outlawed cock fighting. the only two states which permit cock fighting are LOUISIANA AND NEW MEXICO\n\nI use the word chicken fighting because yahoo censure the word cockadoodle-do
600409
.  First of all our "forefathers did not "give us our freedoms"  they fought to ensure that we had that with which  we were rightfully   "endowed by our Creator".   Those freedoms that we commonly speak of like the freedom of the press, the freedom to worship, and the rights: to assemble, to free speech, to trial, etc are all part of that single concept of liberty.  I would not give up one of those individual freedoms or rights because to do so would be to diminish liberty...and liberty is our God given right.  So I agree with several of the other answers in that one respect.  However once again we have our president being accused for eroding our freedoms.  I challenge anyone to offer any evidence that an action on the part of the president has violated the bill of rights.   If you want to talk about an erosion of freedoms lets talkabout some of the liberal legislators in both state and federal  government who have made a habit of imposing arbitrary taxes.  Take for example taxes on tobacco products.  Whether you are a smoker or not, the principle should outrage you.  You have a few politicians who want to raise money who say well...".hey..i don't smoke..how about if we add 50 cents onto the cost of a pack of cigarettes...those smokers are in the minority, we can get away with it".  How fair is that?  Seems to me we fought a revolution in this country over less than this.  How about eminent domain?  You don't think that is an erosion of your freedoms.  A city can just decide they are going to buy your property from you and sell it to a developer because they can make more money in taxes from what will be built there.  What ever happened to private property?  I guess that doesn't mean so much to you liberals.  And why?...Because...private property is the first thing to go under communism and the liberal left mentality in this country today is a direct result of the influence of communist/socialist educators.  Talk about rights.  You are more concerned about a persons right to have unprotected sex without consequences than the right of a living innocent baby to survive.  Of course you are so concerned about crime that you don't want law abiding citizens to own firearms...you'd be just as happy if they banned them all, when statistically these gun owners aren't causing the deaths.  Yet your liberal minded judges continue to give repeat offenders light sentences or grant probation so that young kids can continue to be raped and murdered by these animals.  Yeah, I'd say we have an erosion of our freedoms due to an unresponsive government that does not act in many cases in the best interest of the American people but rather for their own personal agendas.  In my opinion that agenda by and large is the perpetuation of themselves and their positions ala Ted Kennedy.  George Bush was the right man to be in office at this time and he is certainly no enemy of freedom.\n    I guess I kind of got off the topic a bit but the bottom line is I couldn't choose one individual right or freedom over another.  To do so would be like asking me to choose a part of my body to cut off.  They are all important to me.  They are all part of the whole that are liberty and I would give up my life to defend any one or all.
177568
This is an unfortunate question. The USA is a country of opportunity and freedom. It may not be 'perfect' and our situation with the War in Iraq has cost us some allies however, compare us to Ethiopia, Haiti, or countries in the middle east and we have more freedom and more opportunity than any of them. Our government affords us the lifestyles we choose and the political freedom to voice our opinions.
419387
Absolutely not. Men and women fought, died and were horrifically wounded in 2 world wars to ensure freedoms that included a range of civil liberties that we now take so much for granted that we seem to care less as they are being progressively eroded by those in positions of power in this country. We are the most spied on citizens in the "free" world, and our freedoms are being taken away by the day. Those vociferous people who constantly repeat the politician's and police mantra that "if you have done no wrong, you have nothing to fear" will be the first to complain when we are subjugated, monitored and controlled to such a degree, in the not too distant future, that they are no longer allowed to even voice their protest.  We are calmly sleep-walking into a totalitarian police state, and most of the responders in this forum appear to think that's fine. I despair for our future, and our liberty, when you have so blithely let it go.
238727
Political problems of today can seem somewhat similar to the days prior to the civil war because they are similar issues (we're not talking race here either).  The Civil War was fought over states rights -and the more the federal government wanted to take over or make mandates that the states had to follow, then the more states rebelled - the same thing is happening today.  The federal goverernment is dictating and that is hindering the  states rights which are guaranteed in the constitution.  So the Civil War's legacy is not the cause of the problems today, but the problems today are very similar in nature.  Good observation of your  part.
92511
I'm sure they already have, and are currently. The government has little respect for rights or the constitution. This is a sad country we live in now. america the un-free. Thanks republicans.
41617
America was founded on freedom.  Our forefathers didn't want the government imposing anything on its citizens.  In modern times, religious references in a public, governmental setting walks a fine line.
406609
My USA citizen countrymen/women. The USA is a melting pot of many colors and nationalities. I hope all of us would defend each other against outside forces or entities. We should not allow other people to divide us by bringing up issues in the past that they use to stir up past ills. The past is and should remain there, in the past. Issues of today are issues of today. We all had our good and bad pasts, they are over with. Today we should look at each other as AMERICAN compatriots.
120803
We are a privileged country.  One that many do not realize.  The more we get, the more we want.  People in other countries may have it "bad" in comparison to "our" standards of living, but at the same time, they don't miss what they don't have.  I love my country (USA),but I don't think we realize the cushion we have made for ourselves in comparison in other countries. Whatever happened to the famous saying, "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. - John F. Kennedy". I think we forgot!
287040
I think you've answered your own question! No, we are not a free country. Right now all we have is the freedom of speech and they are trying to stop most of that.\nEverything in this administration is based on fear-fear of the terrorists, fear of people not God-fearing (notice the fear word), fear of the bird flu-you name it and people are scared. They should be scared of this administration!\nNotice the name I go by-dismayed american.
243715
No way!\nIt's time America stood up and supported this great document.\nIf we did, there would be less government control in our lives.\n\nTry this:\nhttp://constitutionparty.com
316897
Well, the civil war didn't end the attrocities being committed against blacks being treated as sub-humans.  I would hope that everyone would be educated about civil liberties which have been perverted by the left wing in this country.\n\nSamuel Adams said:\n\nAmong the rights of the colonists are these:\nfirst, to life; second, to liberty; third, to property; along with the right to support and defend them.\n\nCivil rights is one indicator of how civilized a nation is. Abortion is the most barbaric act against an innocent and helpless human being. In reality, and when compared to slavery, we are far more barbaric than 50 and 200 years ago.\n\nCivility and etiquette are not part of modern society. People of todays generation have perverted natural law and the meaning of civil liberties to mean selfishness. It is appauling and disgusting. When civil liberty is perverted to mean, "I can do whatever I want and have a right to privacy." we have totally ignored our civic duties. \n\nThis is a GOOD QUESTION! Civil rights go in a sequential order as Samuel Adams (father of the American revolution) expressed to the continental congress in 1772.  The recent Supreme Court decision is an example of how we are regressing in civil liberties. Quite often those who want to keep abortion legal would belittle what was written 200 years ago as if it has no relevance.  In effect, they want to play God!
121547
There are always sacrafices needed and made so that we can enjoy our freedoms. You can't force anyone to live together in peace. No matter how hard you try, it doesn't work. That is the big ideal that socialist/communist societies try to portray. History has shown them to be failures.
184334
They are asking what America means to YOU.  And you are right on for wanting to include the bill of rights.  It is the most perfect documeht any government has ever had.  It is the foundation for anything that makes us great, that and our multi-cultures.It is the only justification we have ever had for stealing the Indians land from them.  Anyway our country is on the right track you can trace it down and find that in that area we are alligned with the constitution.  With the precept and concepts of equality and justice and people governing their own government.  With those rights we hold to be God give and inalienable (meaning they CANT be taken away) Any area where we arent being or doing what we should shows how we are not aligned with the bill of rights,its concepts and precepts. As an American I believe the bill of rights is America. Its the liberty bell, Betsy ross, fourth of july picnics, boats trains cities like New York all rolled up.  I know the bill of rights will save the world someday.  Because America will wake up in time to say what is the point of freedom of speech, to worship as we see fit, to assemble, if all our freedoms our on a dying soil. And we will get rid of the corporate take over, and glutted big business and the military industrial complex, and we will have nothing but forest rangers and coast guards where there was once a killing military. And instead of the dow chemical corporation we will have Lloyds home laboratories  and small businesses will flourish.   America will once again be a fertile paradise and the Indians hearts will be glad.
546941
We've been told that it's to protect us in case the government tries to get a little too tyrannical. I guess the Bill of Rights also protects us from ourselves and some extremely intolerant and conservative people out there. The original writers of the Constitution didn't care for a Bill of Rights, but they had to add it to please some states so the states would join the union.
616152
Our system of Government was set up as a Republic.  they were well afraid of too strong of Federal Government and sit the nation up as individual states and the Federal Government to only have that power that was given it, \n\nBasicly each state was to have the right and ability to be self governing.\n\nWell that went to >>>> in a handbasket before too long and that was one of the main issues of the civil war, with the south supporting state rights and the union supporting a much stronger and powerful federal government.\n\nSo now we have federal income tax ( which is actually unconstitutional) but who listens to me.  And a Federal Army, not merley each state supply troops for a Federal defense.\n\nBut some issues like capital punishment,  murder laws, theft laws, and of course Probate laws, have been left alone for now, since I guess there is not enouigh money in them for the feds to want to be invovled.
303440
didn't the Canadians start this?  whats good for the goose is good for the gander.  every Friday we should do something more profound.  lets see, the immigrants had a big protest. what if we did that every Friday.  skipped work and protested all day long outside federal and state government offices.  that would make a statement.  but I'm afraid that the consequences would be to great for most people to try.  but how much do you really care about our troops and our country.  one man can't do much, but a nation certainly can.