Freedom of Speech and Writing
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The United States Constitution, established by America’s founding fathers in 1776, has a total of twenty-seven (27) amendments. The first ten (10) of these are known as the Bill of Rights. And, of the entire Bill of Rights, the very first amendment is the most important one of all. It reads as follows:
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.
I am an American citizen but have lived abroad and traveled to different parts of the world as well. I acknowledge and respect international culture and different ways of thinking, and even different forms of government. However, the principle of this first amendment is really important for everyone to understand.
This first amendment of the U.S. Bill of Rights is what guarantees freedom of speech for all people of the world. For a government to really endure, it must represent the people and not oppress them. Otherwise, there will be turmoil and strife and then citizens will experience oppression and a basic denial of their right to speak their minds and write what they want. There can be no free press is such a predicament.
The U.S. holiday of July 4th is approaching soon and there are certain principles within the U.S. Constitution that can benefit citizens of the world. I encourage those of you reading this blog to study the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights to understand the basic principles of freedom, especially the first amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech. If a government controls your mind, speech and what you write, then you are most certainly not free. Then, you are oppressed. And, this is no way to live! So, take a stand and help your nation to a greater understanding of the U.S. Constitution and its precious words. Many people flee their nation and go to another country to live illegally. It is my hope that you have the courage to stay in your country and make it a better place to live.
As a Technical Writer, I work mostly with software systems, so I don’t usually get too involved in pure journalistic-type writing. Nonetheless, there are times in my documentation or training sessions where I will have to express my opinion about something, for the presentation to have meaning and lasting value. And this is backed-up, politically, here in the USA, with the first amendment right.
So, to wrap-up this post, freedom of speech is the foundation upon which evolution of the press and journalism in all its forms may prevail. Without it, man lives in the stone-age and that is a scary thought. We should, as human beings, value the ability and right to express ourselves and what we think. In this way, there can be new bridges built each day between people, companies, governments, and industries of all sorts.
True Freedom of speech, and hence, writing, is the path to a greater future for all of us.
4 Comments
June 21st, 2008 at 10:08 am
May freedom of speech prevail around the world
for the benefit of all writers and thinkers alike.
June 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 am
Hello Keith,
I am trying to follow the developement in the USA with great interest and also very worried.
You see, when I was born in 1932 it was shortly before the brown disease caught an entire nation.
I was too young to actively take part in the fighting, for which I am grateful. At 13 years of age, this nightmare ended and this was achieved with the help of the USA! I thank you for this still and even now after 63 years! At 13 years a young human being is at a very impressionable stage and the previous attempts at indoctrination wore away fairly quickly. My view of America and the the Americans was full of admiration. The idea of freedom and how it was practised ovber there across the atlantic was extremely appealing. How lucky I was, to be alive and able to do my share in the rebuilding of my completely destroyed country, again with the help of the americans (Marshall-Plan and others).
Since food was scarce we got fed in the schools with one meal a day! The Quakers of america collected the funds provide this help. A “Care-Paket” was something so valuable. And all this was given without looking back. All the atrocities of the twelve years before where not held against us young germans. This, for me, was proof of a really great people and nation and it formed my opinion and viewpoint. We - or should I say I - was taught democracy. After having been a member of the “Jungvolk” , the Nazi-Organisation for the 10 to 14 year olds, and being brought up with an idea of “Grossdeutschland”, I got totally new ideas and since they where so convincing and backed up by the congruent actions of the americans I got to know then, these ideas took hold in my thinking and formed my new view of the world, of people, of “values”, of “good” and “bad”, of “decent”, of “honest”.
Is it very surprising then, that I am deeply worried today, when I look at what is going on in the USA. When I am witnessing how the “values” are corrupted. When I see how attempts are made, to change the immensly valuable content and meaning of the “constitution” and the “Bill of rights” you are mentioning in your blog? Is this still what I regarded as a role model? The past 8 years have brought about changes, I would not have believed possible. Where is the root for this change?
What is going on?
I am not looking at the US alone, I also observe what is happening in my own country and around it.
And what I see is equally frightening. I perceive our government as a collection of incompetent, greedy, power-hungry, lying, cheating, dishonest fools. They don´t even notice, that by their policy they are producing a climate, where the extreme rightist and leftist ideas are fed and strengthend.
I guess, I must stop here, before I get carried away too much. Thinking about all this is counter productive to my attempts of creating a peaceful and quiet mind, following the teachings of the Dharma.. It is hard work, to dampen down the harmful emotions, which come to the surface, and to find the level of mind, where inspiration and intuition help.
Now, there you have it, your blog about “Great Documents” has inspired me to write all this and I hope and pray, that you understand it in the right way.
Mind you, according to my belief, the world around us is the product of our thinking. If this is true, then we are responsible for what is happening.
I hope you know, that you have so much to lose, if you are not very alert and watchful. If we allow selfishness, greed and the lust for power to take over, we are giving away our freedom and are reduced to puppets on a string.
Now as far as I am concerned, I don´t want to be a puppet, also I don´t want to be a string. But even less I want to be the puppeteer. That would prevent me to make another step towards the light.
OM MANI PADME HUNG
george
(PS. please note the changed e-mail-address)
June 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 am
@George - Thank you very much for you candid and in-depth comment. Yes, freedom of speech is not a given for mankind, even though historically there have been prominent moments. Freedom of speech (and writing too) is something we have to constantly endeavor to attain, because unfortunately there are forces out there that want to suppress this right, so that “the few” can override “the many”. But actually freedom of speech is what is in the best interest of all people of all classes and walks of life. Cheers, Keith
June 22nd, 2008 at 12:15 pm
come on Keith u didn’t sent me that subjet to read it n to write my own a review!! even it’”s about an american amendment ,but i care of it as it includes a freedom of speech n writing.
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