It’s summertime!  Weather is nice (for the most part).  We are about to celebrate this great nation’s birthday.  BBQs, traveling, fireworks, American flags displayed; these are some of the things we’ll be seeing and doing.  If only our boys in red, white, and blue pulled off a win against Belgium, it would of been an extra special celebration for the 4th.  I digress.  Mongo would like to thank everyone in our community for the love and support shown to our site throughout the years.  Mongo is thankful to be in a country that gives the inalienable rights of individuals to express themselves free from persecution.  I cherish my 1st Amendment right to freedom of speech.  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.  It is these words written in our Constitution by our Founding Fathers that let’s us establish a site like ours.  This is one of the most important laws we have.  It is this basic right that has made the United States what it is today, a great nation. 

No matter what is written on rubmaps, it is protected by the 1st amendment.  We live in a country that protects our civil liberties.  People have many views on variety of topics. Each perspective is protected whether someone thinks it’s right or wrong.  I know I sound like a teacher in a civics class right now.  There is a reason why I chose 4th of July to write about this topic.  Mongo is aware of the current news.  Stories heard around the country that affects the hobbying community.  Yes, we’ve heard of raids here, busts there, stings uncovered, bills being passed, sites being shut down, etc.  All are trying to take our rights away as Americans to the pursuit of Happiness Endings.  It is un-American.  Rubmaps will do everything within legal means to defend our freedom of speech.  We know our rights.  And we will defend those rights completely.  Mongo is thankful to be in the land of the free and the home of the brave.