By Tennessee
State Rep. Mike Sparks
Motlow Buzz
Contributing Writer
(Editor’s Note: The following Op-Ed on
the First Amendment expresses the subjective opinions and experiences of former Motlow State Community College student Mike
Sparks. It serves as a good opportunity for
educational discussion. Sparks is the co-host of "Rutherford Issues," a radio talk show on WGNS-AM/FM in Murfreesboro.)
SMYRNA -- A few years ago, I decided
to go back to Middle Tennessee State University and take the remaining few
hours to complete my college degree. After attending a few semesters part time,
I needed one additional class, and I decided to complete a Maymester course.
I was searching the MTSU online platform
and came across a class titled, “Free
Expression.” The class at first really didn’t interest me until I met the
professor, Dr. Larry Burriss. With the course titled “Free Expression,” I was
expecting the class to be taught by someone in a tie-dye shirt and wearing sandals.
On the contrary, the professor was a
tough former lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force who had served on active
duty in various parts of the world and even at the Pentagon. Dr. Burriss held a
wealth of knowledge and was well experienced in the many facets in the School
of Journalism, including serving as the former director of the School of
Journalism and dean of the College of Mass Communications.
The subject was in regards to the
expression of free speech and the First Amendment. I had often listened to Dr.
Burriss’s commentary on WGNS-AM/FM Radio
and enjoyed his insights and opinions. Needless to say, his “Free Expression”
class and his lectures about the importance of the First Amendment peaked my interest.
The subject of free expression
encouraged me to take a few other journalism courses at the MTSU School of Journalism
located in the John Bragg Building, named in honor of the former Tennessee
State representative. All the MTSU journalism professors were thought-provoking
and very helpful. I especially enjoyed completing former WTVF-TV legendary anchorman Chris Clark’s broadcasting class. Just
hearing the sound of Professor Clark’s voice took me back to my younger years,
since he was a huge part of coming into our family home via television and listening
to him deliver the news every evening.
During
Professor Clark’s first day of class, he handed each student a small card with
the First Amendment written on it. As he handed it to me, I quoted Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend
to the death your right to say it.” I keep his First Amendment card with me
each day. It reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or
of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
the government for a redress of grievances.”
Serving in and around politics for
many years, I have personally witnessed false narratives used to attack those
whom that particular media outlet disagreed with or didn’t line up with its
political persuasion. Often times I have witnessed a headline that seems like
it is being used to shed a negative light on an elected official with his/her
words twisted and taken out of context.
One experience I witnessed that
violated the First Amendment was of an African-American church, Word of Life. Members
were not allowed to worship in their own church. The irony is that a white
church, Giles Creek Baptist Church, helped build that congregation’s church
building by donating all the labor. The small church of little means was not
allowed to hold services for two years due to an easement dispute with the city.
The church was out of pocket in excess of $56,000 on building payments, a
considerable sum, yet members couldn’t worship in their own church.
I recall sitting in the Tennessee
General Assembly just after a session a few years ago, asking Pastor Wellington
Johnson to update me on the situation.
He said, “Brother Sparks, I don’t
know what else to do but to let it go.“
I responded, “Pastor, you can’t let
the church go.”
To my surprise, when I mentioned
this to a few local reporters, no one seemed to be concerned. Finally, Mikal Lewis,
a former reporter with Fox 17, returned
my call and reported on it. (To view the news report, search “Word of Life Lavergne”
on YouTube).
I have also personally witnessed a
reporter calling me to ask for an interview. I asked, “What is the issue?” The
reporter, who I knew and thought very highly of me responded, “There was a prayer
said at the opening ceremony of Stewarts Creek High School.” I asked, “Who
complained and why is this newsworthy?” He said, “No one complained, but I have
to cover what my producers want me to cover?”
Needless to say, I was rather
surprised that WSMV-TV Channel 4 thought
this was even newsworthy. Ironically, the reporter couldn’t find anyone in our
community who complained, so he contacted a “separation of church and state”
group in Washington, D.C., to get a comment.
I have also witnessed an
African-American church, Ebenezer Primitive Baptist Church, a beautiful old
church much like the one on “Little House On the Prairie,” suffer vandalism. It
was heavily reported, but the kindness of Smyrna’s Parkway Baptist and a few other
churches who donated to them afterward was not reported. In my opinion, often the
media is more about drama and more interested in “clickbait headlines” and ad
revenue than helping to find solutions. Naturally, many in the newsroom will
not like or agree with my thoughts or experiences. I have found that many of
them are good people, and I consider them friends of mine. I do believe it is
the editors and newsroom producers who seek that drama to attract more
eyeballs, thus sell more ads.
Edmund
Burke, the Irish-born British statesman,
parliamentary orator, and political thinker said,
“The only thing necessary for the
triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Today it seems that many
are very reluctant to do something, take a stand and voice their opinion for
what they believe is right. Bob Dylan said, “The Times they are a-Changin’.”
The times
they are a-changin’, especially in the newspaper industry. Newsrooms have been
hit very hard with over 1,800 newspapers shutting down since 2004, over 32,000
news personnel losing their jobs, and many rural areas becoming “news deserts” due
to lack of reporting.
Recently,
I was proud to see my colleagues, both Republican and Democrats, pass my House
Bill 0899, which exempts the taxes off monthly periodical newspapers. The
effort may be a small one for our mom and pop newspapers, but it is a step that
could save them a few hundred dollars each month to pay a reporter to cover their
local school boards, potential solutions to an overcrowded landfill, local
sports, and other important issues facing ones community.
The
First Amendment should be a vital concern for all American citizens, both
Republican and Democrat, rich and poor, black and white, conservative or
liberal, and others. Freedom of expression, no doubt, is the cornerstone of a
free democratic society. Without it our society will suffer and Democracy dies
in the darkness.
