Tuesday, June 30, 2020

An Idea Of Freedom In The US - Free Essay Example

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. This text is the first amendment of the United States constitution. The first amendment is arguably the most important amendment that we have because it talks about our freedom and our country was built on the idea of freedom. Without the freedom of speech we would have to leave our thoughts and ideas to ourselves. So what would the world be like without of freedom to speak our thoughts and ideas? It would probably be granted to those who obtain political power. Therefore the citizens cant object to their opinions. It sounds a lot like a monarchy doesnt it? The freedom of speech is a fundamental human right and it should be applied in every nation in the globe. It backs up all other human rights, allowing society to progress and develop. Free speech is the pathway to bringing essential change in a society. The freedom of speech is not just about your voice but hearing the voices around you to want to follow others and develop opinions. The freedom of speech right is cherished by all Americans. Enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, freedom of speech grants all Americans the liberty to criticize the government and speak their minds without fear of being persecuted. Although in reality there are complex lines that can be drawn around what kinds of speech are protected and in what setting. In 1919 the Supreme Court declared in the case Schenck that individuals are not entitled to speech that presents a clear and present danger to society. For example an individual cannot yell there is a bomb on a plane and call it free speech. On the other hand, in 1969, the court declared that even inflammatory speech, such as racist language should generally be protected unless it is likely to cause imminent violence. While the principle of the First Amendment has stayed the same, the courts interpretation has indeed changed over time. Judges, lawmakers, and scholars continue to struggle with balancing strong speech protections with the necessity of maintaining a peaceful society.

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