Photo By Kellen Jenkins
This week is National Free Speech week. The goal of this week is to highlight and celebrate what some might say is one of the most fundamental of rights – the freedom of speech, religion and press.
As the First Amendment to the Constitution, it is typically the most memorable and often the most quoted, for good reason. This one amendment deals with three very important concepts; religion, speech, and the press: “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.”
This amendment protects an individual’s right to speak his or her mind in public without certain fear of repression or repercussions. It also guarantees the right to practice any religion of choice without governmental interference. Finally, it protects any media source from censorship and allows them to speak freely on any subject they chose.
The First Amendment was created in 1789 as the first of many additions to the United States Constitution. It was written to add clarification and elaboration into the unalienable rights that all human beings are given upon birth. The Freedom of Speech, along with the 26 amendments that have followed over the years, stands as a testament to the freedoms our country and government endow to its citizens.
As college students, we are presented with a unique opportunity to exercise our right to speak out and up. During our time in school we are surrounded by new ideas that can cause us to question our beliefs and help shape our minds. We should use this time to actively present our opinions and engage in thoughtful discussions about the important issues of our day. Now is the time to truly push the limits of our rights – to speak loudly and bravely about what we believe.
Thanks to our forefathers, we shouldn’t fear censorship. This is something we must never take for granted, for as basic as these rights might seem they are still not universal. Countless countries around the world still try to punish both individuals and the media for speaking out against injustices of every kind. We should never forget how lucky American citizens are to be able to freely express themselves in anyway they see fit.
The Bulletin staff is especially grateful that we are able to speak openly about the issues that matter to us and to other students at ESU. It is only through frank, open discussion that compromises can be reached and deeper understanding can be discovered. Hiding the issues, whether through censorship or promise of retribution, only gives more power to the ideas, encouraging them to spread and grow to unstoppable heights.
The Bulletin is hosting a Free Speech Wall where anyone can showcase their thoughts and feelings publicly in honor of this monumental week. Come by our table in Memorial Union from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. until Friday to share your opinions on any issue.
We encourage you to get involved by letting your voice be heard not only this week, but always. Apathy is not the answer.
The Bulletin
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