The particular evil of silencing the expression of opinion, is that it is robbing the human race…If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth; if wrong, they lose what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. John Stuart Mill from Essay on Liberty (1859)
I believe this quote to be relevent to our society today in many ways. Everyone has an opinion and it's important that we may be allowed to speak freely. People should learn to question the world around them, and question their own opinions. We should teach our children not only to read, but to question what they read.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Freedom of Speech?
I believe in one’s right to free speech as well as their right to do so without being silenced. By the same logic, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) should have the legal right to express their views without repercussions. Whether I vouch for their cause or disapprove, I show far more concern for their civil rights. As many who feel that they’re right or wrong, the fate of their rights to free speech shouldn’t be quantified by popular demand but always remain free.
Moreover, I believe that for one to truly understand free speech, one must know the conditions in which the first amendment was meant to prevent; to prevent repression of ideas. If we suddenly shut down the members of WBC from their constitutional right to free speech, the same result that we’ve seen several times before will happen again. When a certain side's disagreeable ideas are near subjugated, the imbalance often results in more hate which verges on the edge of violence. In essence, I believe that we all have the right to hate the hater but not to the extent of completely silencing one another.
Moreover, I believe that for one to truly understand free speech, one must know the conditions in which the first amendment was meant to prevent; to prevent repression of ideas. If we suddenly shut down the members of WBC from their constitutional right to free speech, the same result that we’ve seen several times before will happen again. When a certain side's disagreeable ideas are near subjugated, the imbalance often results in more hate which verges on the edge of violence. In essence, I believe that we all have the right to hate the hater but not to the extent of completely silencing one another.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Religion
In the case of the Rastafarians I cannot argue against their usage of marijuana simply because I believe that marijuana should be legal. However, in most cases I believe that no religion should be excused from the law. Consider all of the wars that have been fought over religion alone, yet we believe killing to be wrong. I believe that people are entitled to religious freedom, but this does not mean that they should be excused from the law.
In the case of the Rastafarians I cannot argue against their usage of marijuana simply because I believe that marijuana should be legal. However, in most cases I believe that no religion should be excused from the law. Consider all of the wars that have been fought over religion alone, yet we believe killing to be wrong. I believe that people are entitled to religious freedom, but this does not mean that they should be excused from the law.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Flag Burning
Flag Burning
I disagree about burning flag.
First of all, you bought a flag and decided to destroy it. It is wasting money and gas. According to the economy crisis, we shouldn't do that.
Second, while you enjoy the moment burning, you are murdering the earth. You have no regard for polluting the environment, especially greenhouse effect becomes more serious.
Third, it’s so unmoral to build fire at public. You would bring the fear and make lots of lovely kids scream.
Burning the flag that represents the country wouldn’t bring anything meaningful happen. Some people say it’s a way to show how much you love this country, it’s extremely wrong. If you are a patriotism (not nationalism), your goal is to be a responsible citizen. Tough you may disagree with the government, you love the country. National flag is the symbol of the country, not the government. So when you hate what government did, you can think about burning the photo of the president.
I disagree about burning flag.
First of all, you bought a flag and decided to destroy it. It is wasting money and gas. According to the economy crisis, we shouldn't do that.
Second, while you enjoy the moment burning, you are murdering the earth. You have no regard for polluting the environment, especially greenhouse effect becomes more serious.
Third, it’s so unmoral to build fire at public. You would bring the fear and make lots of lovely kids scream.
Burning the flag that represents the country wouldn’t bring anything meaningful happen. Some people say it’s a way to show how much you love this country, it’s extremely wrong. If you are a patriotism (not nationalism), your goal is to be a responsible citizen. Tough you may disagree with the government, you love the country. National flag is the symbol of the country, not the government. So when you hate what government did, you can think about burning the photo of the president.
Bong Hits for Jesus
Bong Hits for Jesus
Freedom of speech is not unlimited. It only gives rights to spread thoughts within the law
Freedom of speech is relative. You may talk gossip freely, but you infringe other people’s privacy.
Freedom of speech bases on respect. You have got freedom of speech, so do others. So be respect for any conflict among different ideas.
In that case the student seems promote drugs, it’s not allowed in law. Especially he was a high school student, which is a bad example. If the banner was said “Jesus is a fake”, that would not be a legal issue. For the law gives you freedom of religion, also gives you freedom of against religion.
Freedom of speech is not unlimited. It only gives rights to spread thoughts within the law
Freedom of speech is relative. You may talk gossip freely, but you infringe other people’s privacy.
Freedom of speech bases on respect. You have got freedom of speech, so do others. So be respect for any conflict among different ideas.
In that case the student seems promote drugs, it’s not allowed in law. Especially he was a high school student, which is a bad example. If the banner was said “Jesus is a fake”, that would not be a legal issue. For the law gives you freedom of religion, also gives you freedom of against religion.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The First Amendment Test
We scored a 25/30 and we learned that The First Amendment does not permit the government to selectively choose which religions or churches it will protect based on their popularity or the general acceptance (or rejection) of their beliefs. Religious freedoms extended to one church or set of religious beliefs must generally be extended to all.
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