expression... the #1 freedom
DESCRIPTION
Student project about the 1st AmendmentTRANSCRIPT
The FREEDOM to
Express....
An exclusive civil liberties presentation powered by:
Miss Student X's brain
What in the world....
Question one: "What is freedom of expression?"
• Sums up all the liberties mentioned in the First Amendment
• Your right to be who you are, express what you want without being imposed on by Government
Still can't get a clear picture?
Ok...It's starting to make a little more sense now..
Question two: "What exact liberties are in this First Amendment you speak of?"
Simple.
• Freedom of: speech, religion, the press, and association/assembly
Oh. But.....what makes expression so special..
Question three: "Why did you choose the topic of Expression?"
• It doesn't have to be on creative terms nor does it even have to do with self-expression. Humans express all the time- it is life
• Here in America, we can do it in ways that would be considered abominable in other places
• Without this freedom, 99, no...100% of our American existence would not be as it is
Getting started: ORIGINS• Thomas Jefferson states "A democracy cannot be both ignorant and free."
• Framers held belief that if the new U.S. citizens fail to nurture sharing info. among themselves, they'd be worse off than in the British monarchy they fled
• Fled from tyranny and official control of information
• Brought desire for democracy- TRUE democracy and openness
The Framer Fathers took ACTION!!!
• These enlightened men, later known as our "Founding Fathers" used their past experiences/backgrounds to their advantage
• Wrote into their new Constitution
• Bill of Rights came about
• Along came the FIRST Amendment
Here's proof.....
A Little more Insight...
• Because it was the very 1st Amendment, it didn't exactly have to be taken to the Court in order to become official
• However, that didn't stop citizens from experiencing obstacles by exercising the freedom
Do not Tinker Our Expression!!!
• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)
• John Tinker, Christopher Eckhardt, Mary Beth Tinker expelled for wearing black armbands to school
• Symbolic protest of Vietnam War
• Exposed place/issue of Freedom of Expression in schools (First Amendment rights of students)
Well, how'd it go?
• Supreme Court held that students "do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate"
• First Amendment DOES protect public school students' rights to express political and social views
Words of the Man Himself....
— Justice Fortas, speaking for the majority". . . In the absence of a specific showing of constitutionally valid reasons to regulate their speech,
students are entitled to freedom of expression of their views."
Where does EXPRESSION stand today?
• Clearly, still important part of day to day lives
• Basic examples such as: what to wear to school, lingo used with friends, signing petitions online, Wall Street protests, social networking and what is expressed there, etc.
Where does EXPRESSION stand today?
• Though our freedom to express does us good and has done us well in the past (strikes, protests that brought about more civil liberties) there are still negative effects
Unfortunately........
• Because we have freedom to express, that also gives some the freedom to express hurtful things---
• Cyber-bullying
• Bullying in general
• Bullying consists of all types of prejudice (racism, homophobia, religious intolerance, basic playground meanie)
BUT! (Just a few examples)
• Freedom to Express is still a blessing
• Women can wear whatever they want- don't have to be covered from head to toe- without being punished
• Individuals can create havens- a lot are technology/media(press) driven- for those being affected by the "bullies" who abuse their freedom to express (LGBT communities, depression/suicide victims, autistic support communities, and so on)
Here in America.....
• We are free to assemble these communities• We are free to create social networking powered forums• We are free to wear expressive clothing for a beautiful
cause
AND............
Those things are possible BECAUSE of the freedom American citizen's have
to EXPRESS A.K.A. the First Amendment!