OT: More People ......For Mara Jentoft

[Guest guest]

Dear Mara,

 

Thank you for the clear and concise essay you wrote on the First Amendment.

Well stated. I have sent it on to some friends and to my teenagers and asked

them to read it through.

Peace in your day,

Dawn Silver

 

rosequartz <rosequartz wrote:

I am rather a fanatic about the Firtst Amendment so this report alarmed

me. I've put an essay by my daughter Mara below too.

 

More People Know 'Simpsons' Than U.S. Freedoms, Poll Says

POSTED: 6:40 am PST March 1, 2006

UPDATED: 7:15 am PST March 1, 2006

CHICAGO -- Americans apparently know more about " The Simpsons " than they

do about the First Amendment.A new survey shows more than one in five

Americans could name all five Simpson family members -- but, only one in

1,000 people could name all five First Amendment freedoms.And, more

people could name the three " American Idol " judges than identify three

First Amendment rights.The poll was done for the new McCormick Tribune

Freedom Museum.Joe Madeira, director of exhibitions at the museum, said,

" We have our job cut out for us " when the museum opens in April.For

those who were sleeping in class when the teacher went over the First

Amendment, these are the freedoms: freedom of speech, religion, press,

assembly and petition for redress of grievances.

 

Mara Jentoft

January, 2004

 

 

The First Amendment

 

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.

— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

 

 

The First Amendment is the first, and most important of the

constitutional amendments. The most basic rights of a free people are

included in this amendment. These rights are taken for granted by most

of the American people but are vital, and essential in our diverse

society with so many different national origins.

 

 

This amendment means that Congress can not make laws about religion, and

cannot forbid anyone from practicing their religion. It says that

Congress cannot limit freedom of speech, or of the press, newspapers,

and books for example. Also that the people have the right to get

together in groups, and protest what they see as wrong, and ask that

government change those things.

 

 

James Madison wrote the actual 45 words of the First Amendment. Thomas

Jefferson was the primary author of the entire Bill of Rights. He was

strongly influenced by the Virginia Declaration of Rights which had been

written earlier by Virginia delegate George Mason . The Virginia

Declaration of Rights contained several of the ideas, and principles now

contained in the First Amendment.

 

 

The Constitution was considered a partial document because there was no

guarantee of rights. Several states refused to ratify the Constitution

until some guarantee of individual rights was included. The Bill of

Rights provides that guarantee. The Bill of Rights went into effect on

December 15, 1791 when it had been ratified by enough states to become

law. While the Constitution was being ratified most states insisted that

a Bill of Rights be written and placed before the states as amendments

in order to complete what many felt was an incomplete document because

it did not clearly define those rights.

 

 

The British Government before our revolution had tried to restrict

freedom of the press, and freedom of speech and expression. Many

governments had official state religions. Many governments prohibited

political protest. Many governments put limits on what could be

published in newspapers, and books. Under those governments people who

practiced some religions or who said things or wrote articles that

criticized the government or its official policies or who criticized the

people who ran the government could be punished and in some cases even

put to death.

 

 

Many people had specifically come to this “New World” to flee religious

or political persecution. Americans were concerned that without a

specific guarantees of rights in the constitution the Government could

become oppressive. There was a lot of fear that the mistakes and abuses

of the other governments could be repeated.

 

 

Today because of the guarantee of the First Amendment people in America

can assemble, and protest what the government is doing. In many other

countries of the world people can still be arrested or killed for doing

this. Free speech, which we take for granted is very limited in most of

the world even in so called democratic countries. The free press has

similar problems world wide. Currently France is limiting religious

dress and has restrictions on the kinds of religions that can be practiced.

 

 

In some countries everyone must belong to a specific church, and must

contribute money to a State designated religion. Our government by law

can not favor one religion over another. Today the First Amendment is

limiting efforts by our government to provide money to religious run

organizations, and charities such as religious schools and welfare

support groups. The First Amendment prevents the government from

prohibiting the sharing of information about things like birth control.

 

 

As a member of a minority religion I am affected by the First Amendment

daily. The First Amendment means that I have the right to practice my

religion, to attend services, and gatherings with others of my faith and

speak about it. I also have the right to not have a religion or belong

to a church. I have also spoken out about things I see as political

wrongs. Without the First Amendment I might have been silenced or even

jailed for my belief .

 

 

We are able to get information about things, and hear ideas that the

government may not support because of the Freedom of the Press. We have

the right to listen to other people’s opinions whether or not the

government approves of them because of freedom of speech. Our school

books have information about times when the government policies were

wrong or when people were mistreated in this country. There is

information in our schoolbooks about scientific theories that differ

from some religious doctrine. You can speak publicly about social

problems and things you think should change. In some countries getting

together in a group is considered suspicious. We have access to

differing opinions about political, social and scientific matters.

 

 

Many of the social changes and improvements we take for granted have

come about because of the efforts of people to call attention to

problems. The civil rights movement, the right of women to vote, anti

war movements, and more have all used the rights guaranteed under the

First Amendment to call attention to government policies and to social

injustices . Many of the actions by protesters have forced the

government to make changes as public opinion was reflected in the

election of members of congress and state legislators. Candidates for

national offices have campaigned on issues of great public concern and

made changes to government policies when elected.

 

 

The freedoms confirmed by the First Amendment are not absolute. The

government does have the power to restrict these freedoms if the

expression threatens to be destructive. The First Amendment does not

give anyone the right to express themselves with a violent or illegal

action.

Arguments about the extent of the First Amendment have often reached the

Supreme Court.

 

 

The example used By Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was that no one

has a constitutional right to shout “Fire” in a crowded theater when no

fire is present because such action would pose a “clear and present

danger” to public safety. The freedom of the press is somewhat limited

by libel laws which prohibit unjust public printed defamation of

someone. The Press has the right to call someone a thief if they really

are a thief, but not if the charge is untrue. Other areas where there

are limits on some of the First Amendment Freedoms include Hate crimes

and Obscenity laws.

 

 

Some people think that the way the First Amendment is interpreted by the

courts goes too far. They don’t think that the first amendment should

protect topless dancers or foul mouthed comedians. Some people think

that their Religious beliefs should be given special status by the

government and that some other religious beliefs should not be allowed.

 

The First Amendment has shaped the character of the United States

because it permits the diversity of the many people who make up the

nation. All the many nationalities can express their views without fear.

For over 200 years the First Amendment has served to guarantee the

rights of Free expression that is vital to the to existence of this

democratic nation.

The First Amendment is perhaps the main reason people in America can

speak freely and share opinions without fear that they will be punished

for doing so.

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

 

“The Dictionary of Cultural literacy “ by E.D. Hirsch jr., Joseph F.

Kett, James Trefil second edition 1993

 

“Don’t Know Much About History” by Kenneth C Davis ,1990

 

 

First Amendment center http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/

 

National archives

http://www.archives.gov/national_archives_experience/bill_of_rights.html

 

How the First Amendment Came to Protect Topless Dancing By Susan Shelley

http://www.argushamilton.com/susan/topless.htm

 

 

Mara Jentoft

http://www.pjentoft.com/first-amendment.html

 

--

 

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