“I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the death, your right to say it.”

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That famous quote has been attributed to 18th century French scholar and author Voltaire. It has been used myriad times to describe, and defend, the most sacred of rights Americans enjoy — the right to speak freely without interference from the government.

In our Constitution — the framework that has sustained this country for almost 2 1/2 centuries — that right is the first, top of the list, the most important. At times that freedom makes us queasy, at times it drives us to protest. But it must be protected at all costs.

When members of Westboro Baptist Church descend on military funerals to protest, using hateful language about God and fags and the fact that they are glad members of our military were killed, it should turn stomachs. It is hateful beyond comprehension. But they are protected. And when organized Patriot groups rally to the defense of military families to get between the protesters and the funerals, they, similarly, are protected.

Popular speech has no reason to be protected.

In other areas of the world, such speech is not only unprotected, but also punishable by death. An obscure movie trailer for a film critical of the Muslim’s religion’s leader, released on YouTube, was the lynchpin for not only protests, but deaths in the Middle East. Chants of “Death to America” and the burning of the American flags are commonplace on news channels.

An American diplomat is dead, alongside three of his bodyguards. Suicide bombers are igniting themselves — and killing many alongside — because a man in Los Angeles was critical of Muhammad.

In America, the choice would be simple — if you don’t agree with the film, do not watch it. Do not patronize movie theaters that show it. Hold up signs and placards denouncing it. But as angry as we might get, there is no excuse to cause death to others because of the feelings of one man. Even fathoming such actions is foreign for those who love, appreciate and defend that First Amendment right.

The Obama administration is dancing the political tightrope, but by their words, they attack the premise of the film. Instead of explaining the magic of the First Amendment, they capitulate in hopes no more violence erupts.

At a minimum, this episode should cast the brightest of spotlights on the contrasting cultures. Can we thrust Democracy on a part of the world that has shown that it will pick apart the most basic tenet of Democracy with guns and swords?

No matter the violence there, the bigger question should be turned inward. The First Amendment is being tested. It’s too important a cause to let the violent actions of people who do not know true freedom to overpower the most precious of our freedoms. And we all should be willing to fight to the death to protect the right for Americans to have that freedom, whether religious extremists approve or not.