Creative Commons photo by Denise Krebs
The First Amendment is the foundation of an open society. Two of the five protections guaranteed by the First Amendment -- freedom of speech and freedom of the press -- help ensure that we provide citizens with a "marketplace of ideas" free from censorship.
Yet the right to free expression often comes into conflict with other rights, especially when it infringes on the safety or morality of others. Yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre, for example, is not protected by the First Amendment. Neither is child pornography or material that is considered obscene in nature.
The First Amendment is therefore a blessing and a curse. Either way, it should be easy to see why the First Amendment is not just a static document that was written by our forefathers over 200 years ago. Because society and technology change and evolve, the First Amendment is continually challenged by cases that need to be interpreted by the courts.
While the digital revolution has enabled us to have incredible opportunities and resources at our fingertips, it has also spawned problematic trends. How, for example, do we sift through it all? How will people know the difference between legitimate news sources and biased or unsupported propaganda? How will people be able to make informed decisions?
NBC anchorman Brian Williams summed it up well: "It is now possible--even common--to go about your day in America and consume only what you wish to see and hear. There are television networks that already agree with your views, iPods that play only music you already know you like, Internet programs ready to filter out all but the news you want to hear . . . The whole notion of 'media' is now much more democratic, but what will the effect be on democracy?"
Also click on this link to see an interesting story that evolved on Twitter following the recent shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. It raises interesting questions about bias in the media.
Please share your thoughts about any of the the items mentioned in a brief response.
I firmly believe the 1st amendment should protect the rights of verbally expressed thoughts of the people; not only through speech but also through press. Though this amendment secures a citizens right to express one's thoughts, I am also a believer of boundaries and extents. Good or bad, what people say most often and frequently affect other people. In the short news clip viewing a story, an Army Mom lost her son in Iraq. There was also an uproar on a mayhem of people that bashed gays and were in high disagreement with homosexuality. These individuals expressed their hatred through signs and a gathering at a funeral to stress their loathe for homosexuals. Though it may seem completely unjust to allow behavior of the such to occur in a time of mourning and extreme sensitivitity, it is protected by the first amendment.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the 1st Amendment should be followed and that people should have the right to state whatever opinions they have and write whatever they want. However, I do think there should be limitations to the First Amendment. I think that people should not be allowed to protest at places of mourning, such as funerals, and I believe that people should be allowed privacy, and not have paparazzi or protesters interfere in their everyday lives.
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ReplyDeletePersonally I think that the 1st Amendment is in every citizen's self rights meaning that they should be allowed to speak, worship, assemble, petition, and publish freely. However, I do also feel that some restrictions and boundaries should be put on the 1st Amendment. If a child comes to school wearing an 'I hate hispanics' shirt, legally that would be okay but should that be allowed? If someone walks the street with a sign saying gays should be killed should that be allowed just because it is technically legal? I feel that both of these are examples of reasons why some restrictions to be put in place. Overall, I personally feel that the 1st Amendment is truly a blessing and a curse.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the video that was attached to this post, I found myself troubled by what to think. The group of people angered me and the message they were sending was one I defiantly do not agree with. I thought the way they assembled their ideas was vulgar and rude, but it is something that the First Amendment protects. I strongly believe that the First Amendment should be followed and protect every citizen's right to speak, assemble, worship, and petition freely. As angered as I am about this situation, I understand that they have a right to act and speak out. Just because I, along with many others, disagree and look down upon their actions, it does not mean that the First Amendment should be altered. Disagreements will happen, no matter what restrictions and laws the government puts against them. Everyone has the right to speak out, no matter what the reason is. The First Amendment protects every citizen of this. We have to be understanding of this, so when it is our turn to protest or petition, we will feel protected and safe.
ReplyDeleteI believe the first amendment was created in a time when America needed guidance with its new found freedom. Since the making of the bill of rights a lot of improvements have been made in communication.I believe there is a time and place for everything, and a funeral for someone who gave their lives to save others is not the place to protest. Also, I witnessed several of the '#IfTheyGunnedMeDown' post on my own twitter and I was surprised when I went to look at victims that had been killed and the images used in the media. I think the bill of rights needs to be updated to fit society's found love social media.
ReplyDeleteThe people protesting in the video were inconsiderate and it disgusted me. Those attending the funeral were clearly going through a hard time. Even considering this, I do not think it was wrong that the court ruled this protesting to be legal. I believe people should have as many rights as possible. If they want to say hurtful things, then so be it. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." It is an old saying, and I know that mentally words can really hurt people, but sometimes I think people just need to toughen up a bit. There are worse things in the world going on than having your feelings hurt. I may sound harsh and apathetic, but I truly believe that the first amendment should not be amended because then that is playing God. If people want to express their opinions, I think it is okay. It can be beneficial to hear or see an opinion different than yours because it makes you realize there are other points of view in the world, and it is important not to be living in your own little bubble all the time. As for the tweeting, I think it is wrong to show a picture of someone doing a bad thing without showing the good because just because a person does something bad does not make them a bad person. The media should show both pictures, but if they want to show only the bad picture, it is their choice and they can go feel guilty about that now because they have probably done a bad thing once or twice in their lives, too.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is very important for ideas to flow freely without censorship, some boundaries should be put in place to protect people. The funeral is a difficult event for the friends and family of the deceased, and the protestors cause even more pain for them on that day. Local ordinances can be passed to control this problem. Funeral homes could have no protest zones, or the city could institute a designated area for protest. The First Amendment should not be changed because ideas and opinions help our society progress and grow.
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