For extra credit: Read the following information and leave a comment answering the question at the end of this post. Due Friday, Sept. 30!
Should citizens be able to videotape the activities of police officers in public? Should a college student be disciplined by her university for a video she made disparaging Asian students? Should people have to use their real names on the Internet? Can violent video games be sold to children? Should anti-gay protesters be allowed to picket at military funerals?
All of these are recent questions that have arisen around First Amendment rights. Do you know what your First Amendment rights are? Do you have strong feelings about any of the individual cases we list here? Why?
In “Name That Freedom,” an article from Oct., 2010, John Schwartz writes:
How much do we need to know [about the Constitution]? Clearly, many of us are lacking even the basics. The First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University has looked at Americans’ familiarity with its eponymous portion of the Bill of Rights, and the results would make Thomas Jefferson weep. While 61 percent of those surveyed this year knew that the First Amendment protects freedom of speech, just 23 percent volunteered that it also supports freedom of religion, and 18 percent cited freedom of the press. Freedom of association? Fourteen percent. Only 6 percent of those polled could cite the right to petition the government for grievances, the fifth major freedom guaranteed under the First Amendment.…Though they lived two centuries before the Internet, the founders knew that they were creating the first information-based nation, a new kind of republic powered by ideas and argument. To give the people who would vote for their leaders the tools to vote wisely, ideas and debate, conscience and faith had to be protected. And it all happens in the First Amendment.
Students: Tell me how well you think you understand the First Amendment and the rights and freedoms it provides. Where do you stand on some of the First Amendment issues we list that have recently been in the news? Are you aware that teenagers have free speech rights too? Have you ever been in a situation in which you felt your First Amendment rights were challenged? Does the right to free speech ever feel wrong?
I understand the First Amendment that it gives everyone the freedom of speech, freedom of press, free exercise of religion, freedom to petition, and the right to peacefully assemble. I stand for the rights practices recently in the news as long as it was not ridiculous and acting for unfair ideas. I am aware that teenagers have free speech rights too, since I have studied several cases revolved on these issues from the last 50 years. I have never been in a situation where I felt my rights were being challenged. The right to free speech doesn't feel wrong in less a person is doing something that is unconstitutional.
ReplyDeleteNice response, but you need to use specific examples to support your answer. Explain what you think to be considered "unconstitutional," and give an example of which first amendment issues are in the news.
ReplyDelete+4 extra credit points :)
I believe that I have a pretty decent understanding of the First Amendment. I understand that we as citizens have certain rights that may be challengable for judgement at times (depending on severity), but the First Amendment gives us some rights & freedoms you just can't experience in many other places around the world. Sometimes, however, the First Amendment is abused & people find "loopholes" to petition something that seems unlawful or unconstitutional. For example, if someone tried to launch a petition to ban all but one type of language in America, we would most likely be split as to whether it is a true cause or not.
ReplyDeleteWell written response, but you do not address all of the questions asked. Be sure to completely answer all questions.
ReplyDelete+4 extra credit points
I sense as though I have a pretty good perspective on the First Amendment and the rights and freedoms it provides. Freedom of religion states that we have the choice to follow whichever religion we choose and no one shall tell us we can’t. Freedom of speech says that all citizens have the right to speak their minds and say whatever they feel. Freedom of the press allows anyone to have freedom of speech in articles, on television, radios, or in any written manor. Freedom of association gives people the right to join groups no matter what they stand for. The last right and freedom the First Amendments provides is the right to petition, this gives you the right to make a complaint to the government without receiving a punishment.
ReplyDeleteI stand completely behind all of the amendments listed above I believe everyone shall follow them. Recently I have realized while watching the news, freedom of speech is not being accepted. I have seen people getting arrested and not having a fair chance to speak their mind. I feel as though there is so much stress on all the violence in the world they just want to keep everyone protected. The Officers, Judges, deputies, etc. don’t care to listen to what those being accused for have to say. This is just my opinion I am not saying they are innocent I am saying there might be something behind all of it that led to whatever was done and more suspects may have been involved.
I’m completely aware that teenagers have a free speech right; I know all citizens have the right to speak their mind, but I feel like people ignore our rights. There have been multiple occasions where I felt my First Amendment has been challenged, my thought behind all of it is because they think since we are young we don’t know what we are talking about and they don’t care to listen. Having freedom of speech isn’t wrong to me at all; I think that this is an incredible law that was established. People should feel free to say how they feel, because if we didn’t no one would ever know what a person’s thought is on whatever they’re discussing. Freedom of speech allows us to be different from one another, it gives us the chance to have a word in discussions and get others to think about how we feel, and have a better understanding on our thoughts and the type of person we are.
+5 extra credit points
ReplyDeleteWow! Wonderful response! It definitely seems that you have a solid understanding of the first amendment. Keep it up!
I don't like talking about the American constitution. We have no right's. Right's are something that can't be taken from us but that is not the case today. Today you have all first amendment privileges until you come together against goverment in any mass, gather weapons even if just for entertainment, or anything that the goverment thinks will hurt them in anyway shape or form. George Carlin sums it all up in one of his comedy specials but basicly you never have rights in your life, only privileges.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment, Daniel, but this extra credit assignment closed last quarter. I will be sure to post new opportunities soon.
ReplyDeleteStill, you have the right to post comments whenever you'd like!