First Amendment

Whether we are aware of what are Constitution and Bill of Rights say to was we exercise those freedoms in everyday life.The first amendment gaurentees us our basic freedoms in all aspects of our daily living.

There might have been a fight about whether the Bill of Rights, our first ten amendments, needed to be added to the Constitution but after much debate these ten amendments were ratified by Virginia on December 15th, 1791 effectively gaurenteeing the basic rights of individuals (www.firstamendmentcenter.com). Today's society is probably more aware of what is gaurenteed to citizens in the Bill of Rights than in the Constitution. It is difficult to think of the Constitution without those amendments and at one time in history they might have never been added. The forefathers of the United States felt that these amendments were necessary to promise the independence and rights of man that were not explicitly expressed in the Constitution. The United States was founded on ideas of freedom. American citizens had been living under the laws of other countires until the Revolutionary War. Although these countries were geographically seperated by a great distance soon to be American citizens were persecuted, taxed, and jailed for ideas other than those of the ruling countries (www.firstamendmentcenter.com). To assure a society of people who have lived with monarchy and intolerance their indepence and expression of ideas is safe the ten amendments were created.

The first amendment has the strongest implication in everyday life. It guarentees the right to freedom of religion, exercise of religion, freedom of speech and press, and the freedom of petition and assembly (www.wikipedia.org). The ability of citzens to speak what they feel, express ideas, share these ideas with others in an informal or organized fashion, to choose which religion or no religion fits their beliefs, and to share these ideas and expressions equally and in a manner they see fit, is something people take for granted today. They forefathers could have never imagined the society of today and yet these rights have held up over 200 years. The first amendment allows society the right to think and that is the beginning of freedom and it also allows citizens the ability to express those thoughts. This amendment gives people an open society. Without it minority religions could be persecuted, there could be a national religion, people could not protest the ideas and silenced, the press could not criticize the ruling party, and citizens could not assemble and petition for social change (www.firstamendmentcenter.com). The forefathers seemed to be thinking that the Bill of Rights will restrict the national government from infringing on the rights of citzens such as the old ruling parties had in the past (Governement in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 102). Most people

With the creation of the first amendment...

Although this amendment has been ratifyied since 1791 it has been interrpureted in different ways through the past 200 years. Even though the Bill of Rights sets about out freedoms, how much freedom do we have? Are we given absolute freedom? What is best for all of society, the balance between personal freedom and the protection of safety of all of society is a challenge that continues on everyday. Are these interpertations of the first amendment protecting us or restricitng us? It is a debate that has gone on throughout the years and called more into question as the world grows and changes. There are those that are strong believers in the rights but question when the rights of some are put into practice (Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 102). Most people believe in religious liberty and toleration but when these ideas start in infringe or conflict with their own beliefs they begin to struggle with absolute freedom (www.firstamendmentcenter.com). Just as most people believe in free speech but struggle with flag burning, certain music, hate speech, pornography, and other forms of symbolic speech (www.firstamendmentcenter.com).

One important way it has affected society is the way students have the ability to express themselves. Although most students are in a setting where it is important to protect and respect other individuals and societal values many students are exploring their new ideas and freedoms for the first time (Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy, 102). One case that shows how free speech is protected is Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503. In this case a 13 year old student at a junior high and a 15 year old at a high school wore black armbands to in support of a Chirstmas truce in the Vietnam War and were both