America! Exploit your rights!

This quarter in humanities as a class we were introduced to the constitution and the amendments. We took an in depth look at our country’s founding documents and how our government it is run. It is essential in high school for students to be educated on the first amendment because an educated society will improve our overall well being as a nation, and also motivate individuals to participate more in the running of this country.

Over the course of this education block, one of my favorite topics had to do with what you could or could not say and do under the first amendment. The first amendment gives us the right to free speech, the freedom of press, the right to assemble, the right to petition the government and the right to religious freedom. I found the details to the right of free speech particularly fascinating. For many years I have enjoyed the music of the singer song writer John Trudell.  Trudell burned an American flag on the steps of the CIA head quarters, and hours later his family was burned alive inside their home. Under the first amendment his actions were protected because he was using Expressive Conduct. Although there are many forms of speech that are not protected such as fighting words, libel, slander and obscenity, I was reassured in my first amendment rights to know that expressive conduct was still protected.

                The knowledge I have gained throughout this quarter has motivated me to become engaged in current events. One of the great hurdle American citizens need to overcome is their apathy to engage in or even understand of national issues. It is clear to me that a majority of Americans do not have an understanding of there rights or the constitution. In fact most Americans do not even show an understanding of how our government works, for instance filibusters, how laws are passed. I think the in-depth exposure I experienced in this class is unique. Over the course of making a video project relating to the first amendment, my team consistently ran into a lack of understanding and lack of interest in discussing American freedoms. Also often there are cases brought to court over first amendment rights, and the ignorance in many of these cases, is more proof on the apathy of Americans to understand their constitutional rights. An example is the case of a young delinquent who argued that she had the right to curse at police officers.  By requiring a more in-depth education in constitutional rights during high school, students who study current events and the constitution can only improve as a society and a nation. We have by far the most opportunities to learn compared to any other nations, we need to use these resources.

                Another topic that drew my attention is the process used for passing laws in the government. The checks and balances system is an ingenious method of keeping a check on the power of individuals. I excelled on the checks and balances test, and found that the concepts came easily. Many other systems like this work simultaneously and I feel it is important to understand these systems to properly understand out government. With out a clear understanding of government policy how will we ever know when our rights are taken away?

                Looking at the future, there are many challenges facing America, from a nuclear Iran to global warming. But no country can be strong until the citizen’s work together and understand how to accomplish goals. With out awareness of how a system works you should never be able to take part in it, same rule goes for the army, you must know how to dissemble a weapon be for you an use it. As Americans we should learn how to wield out rights to gain the greatest potential we can from using them. We need the foundation of a good high school education in our constitution and government before we can expect common people to step up to the plate on these greater issues. 

Links to pasts years DPs
http://jaspergraves11th.blogspot.com/
http://jaspers10thgradedp.blogspot.com/
http://students.animashighschool.com/~jgraves/