Blog Post 3; I Have Something to Say! The 8 Values of Free Expression

I Have Something to Say! 

The 8 Values of Free Expression

    

    Freedom of expression is one of the most valuable but most overlooked aspects of being an American citizen. Speaking to our government is not only a privilege but an obligation as citizens. In total, there are 8 values of free expression, and their priority and relativity change based on the issue at hand. Each value holds equal importance when it comes to our freedom of expression. Out of the 8 values, the 3 that I find notable today are; the participation of self-government, checks on government power, and the protection of dissent. These 3 values vary in their importance, action, and in my own personal resonation based on the current situation in our country. These values also tie into events that are happening in the world today and it is crucial to understand how we as citizens are protected in our speech and expression. With this new knowledge on the 8 values of expression, here is my analysis of the ones I find most relevant today and why. 

    1: Participation of Self-Government 

    The first value that I think is important based on its personal connection is the participation of self-government. I see this one as the most personal because this value to me is what makes being an American citizen so special. Without us, the people, we would not have the government we do today. One big issue today that affects this would be voting. As voting and political stances become more polarized, the turnout at the polls fluctuates drastically. This is one thing that I have noticed heavily in the past few elections. Without the voice of the people, candidates and their policies will not agree with what Americans need. It is vital to participate in this crucial part of our government and it is a privilege to be able to do so. It is not only our right but our responsibility to participate in voting to better our government. 

   The Center for Civic Education says that many American citizens do not participate in our government. They stress the importance of participating by examining three important points for deciding to participate; the purpose of our government, the importance of your rights, and your satisfaction with the government. It is also our responsibility to be sure the people we elect do the job the American people 'hire' them for. However, our responsibility is not done after that. We still have to watch their actions, which I will expand on more in the next value. 

    We must remember, our participation in government is in our own self-interest.

    2: Checks on Government Power 

    The second value that I prioritize today because of its overall importance is checking on government power. Again, it is not only a right but an obligation we have to speak and criticize the government when we feel they have taken advantage of their power. The biggest issue that comes to mind today that relates heavily to this is healthcare, specifically with COVID-19.

    Recently, there has been speculation of the government enforcing a vaccine mandate for all American citizens. However, this would be an abuse of power and both the press and American people have expressed strong opposition to this. Healthcare and one's individual health decision should not involve any form of government. With this value, we are able to speak to our government, address concerns, and reduce government involvement with issues like this. 

    The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School explains the checks and balance system within the government. Each branch of government is provided with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Even though these checks come from within the government, we as American citizens play a role in the checks and balance system too. 

    As previously mentioned, it is not only our right to vote for elected officials but to watch them as well. If they are doing well, we as citizens are more likely to not watch them as closely. On the other hand, if they are doing poorly we have the right to watch them as closely as we want and even replace them if necessary. The amount of time we spend checking on our government depends on how well we think our elected officials are doing in dealing with certain issues. If we feel their work is inadequate we have the right to check on them and take further action if needed. This is our role in the checks and balance system.

    While COVID-19 is not the only major issue right now, it is the one I find most important. If you would like to learn about some of the other larger issues that involve American citizens checking on government power, The Heritage Foundation is a great resource. 

    3: Protect Dissent

    The last value I see as important because of how it resonates with me is the protection of dissent. We have a right to the freedom of speech and expression no matter the issue. In some recent political and social issues, we see the difference in protection between majority and minority groups. The majority groups are most often the groups in favor of what the government is doing and the minority group is against it. Majority groups are almost always given a bit more protection than those of minority groups. No matter how radical the opposing view may seem to be, we have a right to express that. The main current issue I observe in relation to this value, although broad, is protesting rights. Of course, in some protests, actions and speech are not protected but for the sake of this argument, I am speaking exclusively about peaceful protests where everything done is protected by the First Amendment. 

    Oftentimes, it feels as if there is a lack of respect for those protesting the opposing side than that of the government. However, looking back to the previous two values I have mentioned, we have a strongly protected right to disagree with the government and criticize what they do. If this value is ignored, we no longer have the government we were intended to have. The government must listen to any and all points of view, if not, our system is then broken.  

    The University of Chicago Law School says that the ability to publicly express beliefs and opinions is essential to democracy. Protests and public gatherings are a vital form of public expression and most of the time serve as the only option to reach reform. They continue by explaining how many states have failed to protect these public dissents. We can see, especially recently, how police and law enforcement are treating protests as a security threat and discouraging American citizens from this form of expression. These kinds of restrictions only make matters worse and interfere with our basic freedom to speak against our government. 

    Greenpeace even addresses this action from law enforcement as a severe issue. They say that the right to dissent and protest is constitutionally protected and has been a hallmark of our democracy since the founding of this nation. They stress how our First Amendment rights are at serious risk as legislatures aim to stifle and criminalize this right we have. It is happening right before our eyes. American citizens are being punished for speaking out for what they believe is right. We can't let this continue. 

    It is extremely important that as American citizens we recognize our rights to speak and protest against our government. These are the values our country was built on and it is crucial not to forget that. Despite there being 8 total values, I find that these 3 correspond most heavily to what is happening in our government today. We must do everything we can to protect our rights of free expression and keep the values this country was built on. 

Blog Post 2; Order, Order! The Supreme Court of the United States

 Order, Order! The Supreme Court of the United States

    The Supreme Court of the United States is the ultimate jurisdiction and the most powerful court in the world. The job of the Supreme Court is to uphold the values of the Constitution. Their power comes from the faith and trust that the American people put into the 9 Justices that serve on the court. According to HISTORY.com, as of January 2021, 115 Justices have served on the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court was established in 1789 and has been America's most powerful form of jurisdiction since. Article 2 of the Constitution establishes that the power of the Supreme is given to them by Congress. This gives the government a checks and balances system to ensure that each branch of government is working properly with the other. 

      The video we watched from York Associates Television observed the history and workings of the Supreme Court. They stated that the Supreme Court receives roughly 7,000 cases a year, but only takes 80-100 of them. The Supreme Court uses certiorari to help decide what cases they will choose to take. These cases usually receive a great deal of attention prior to the Supreme Court taking them and have great controversy in Trial and Appeal Courts. The issue(s) in these cases have also been brought to the attention of the Supreme Court continuously. Due process and substantive due process play a large part as well in the Supreme Courts' decision to take a case. Due process is when the Appeals Court looks at the Trial Court to ensure the citizen was given a fair trial. If not, the Appeals Court takes the case to the Supreme Court where they use substantive due process to ensure that there was proper protection in legal procedures and other unrelated aspects. The Supreme Court also uses Judicial Review to discern if the actions made by the courts were Constitutional.  

    One new thing I learned about the U.S. Supreme Court was judicial restraint, activism, and review. I had some prior knowledge on these things but now I know a few more specifics and how these actions work in the Supreme Court. 
    Judicial restraint refers to the refusal of action from the Supreme Court. When judicial restraint happens, this means that the court did not change the decision and used stare decisis, which means standing by the decision. This is the most common decision seen by the court. Judicial activism is when the court decides to overturn the precedent of the case. This action usually happens very swiftly and quickly. 

    Judicial review is the power of the court to review all actions by all forms of government and deem them constitutional or not. This action is especially important when the Supreme Court has to make decisions involving elected officials and situations involving government action. 

    The most important takeaway from each source about the Supreme Court would be that the power of the court is the power of trust earned. I think that it is very important that as American citizens we understand that the power of the Supreme Court comes from Congress, and Congress is a representative of the American people. Therefore, the amount of trust and effort we put into our government directly relates to the action we see. 
    I find that this is the most important takeaway because it reminds us of our privilege and rights as American citizens. It also encourages us to continue to be active advocates for what we want to see in our government. 
    

    One surprising thing that I learned about the Supreme Court that I mentioned briefly previously, is the Supreme Courts' ability to pick and choose what cases they take. This is called certiorari. The 9 Justices' that serve on the Supreme Court have the authority to choose what cases they will take. This is mainly because the Supreme Court receives about 7,000 cases a year but can only take about 80 to 100. The certiorari helps the Justices decide what court cases to take. This is mainly decided by the relevance of the issue presented in the case and the results of substantive due process. 
   

    After watching the video, my thoughts on the Supreme Court did not really change. I felt that prior to the video I had a solid understanding of what the Supreme Court does and how it operates. However, one thing that did change after watching the video was my perception of the Justices. I felt much more connected and saw a more personal side to them. It was nice to be reminded that they are people too and that we all just want what is best for our country. Seeing the more personal aspect also gave me more confidence as a young American citizen, because I saw how the Justices interact with each other and reach decisions. 

    All in all, I feel much more educated and informed on the Supreme Court and how it works. It is extremely important as young American citizens and college students that we gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of our democracy. 

Blog Post 1; Are You Informed? My Top 5 News Sources

  Are You Informed? My Top 5 News Sources

    When it comes to news, I am usually pretty picky about where I get my information from. I typically aim for more journalistic style sources, as it is what I enjoy reading most and I think it's one of the most unbiased forms of news since journalists have to uphold their code of ethics in anything they write. Nevertheless, here is a rundown of the top 5 news sources I use to get my information. I hope you enjoy it! 

1: The New York Times

  

    My top news source would be The New York Times. I access their news in a few different ways. The first is through Instagram where I can quickly scroll through content and see the headlines of their stories. Secondly, I have The New York Times app downloaded on my phone which is super convenient. Through the app, I can select which topics I want to receive notifications for and that is really helpful. I also use Google or any other accessible search engine to find a specific article or story I want. Finally, I subscribe to their Morning Briefing email, which is my personal favorite because it gives a quick rundown of everything going on and also includes fun and positive information towards the end. I find that that is a great way to finish up the email. I really like The New York Times because I feel that a great portion of their writing is unbiased. I also like the convenience and accessibility as well as the wide range of topics they cover. Besides keeping up with political and world news, I enjoy the cooking and books of the week segments as well. 

If you are interested;

Here is the link to their website

Here is the link to their app!

Here is the link to their Morning Briefing Subscription

2: The Washington Post

    My second preferred news choice would be The Washington Post. I enjoy reading The Washington Post because it gives me a second journalistic source to read the news from. Similar to The New York Times, I receive their news through Instagram and through Apple News. I also like reading The Washington Post because of the graphs and charts they provide on complex topics. Those really help me understand the subject deeper and help to visualize what is going on. (This was especially helpful during COVID.) In addition, I like the wide range and equal coverage of all different topics. This helps me personally to disengage from the news that may be frustrating or concerning. 

If you are interested;

Here is the link to their website

3: NBC - Snapchat Stories

    One of the most convenient ways I am getting my news lately is through NBC News Stay Tuned. This form of news is through Snapchat and it provides a 2-5 minute rundown of all of the important events going on today. I really enjoy this source as the convenience and effectiveness of it are really great throughout the hustle and bustle of a busy college lifestyle. This source is also great because it is catered directly through social media and gives the audience a chance to interact directly with them through that platform. I also enjoy this source because of how short most episodes are. This is not only good for getting information out fast but also cutting out almost all opinions and biases within the story. 

If you are interested;

Here is the link to the NBC website

Here is the link to subscribe on Snapchat!

4: Pointe Magazine

    On the other hand, when I want to read the news for fun or for my own enjoyment, I go to Pointe Magazine. As a dancer, this is probably one of my favorite sources to get the news on what is happening inside of the dance world. I subscribe to Pointe Magazine through email, so it's fairly easy to stay up to date on all the events. I particularly love the interviews they have on professional dancers, tips for staying healthy, and information on who is working or moving to another company. I also enjoy reading Pointe Magazine because you can see the updated positions in certain ballet companies and it is always nice to stay in the loop and see that someone I know was promoted. This source is also great with general health advice on things like food, exercise, and even how to care for an injury. All in all, this is one of my favorite sources of news to escape most of the harsher news we see and read today.

If you'd like to learn more;

Here is the link to their website!

5: LaGrange Daily News

The final news source that I go to is the local news from my hometown of LaGrange, Georgia, The LaGrange Daily News. They do cover a good bit of the larger stories that the bigger news companies are known for, but they also provide really in-depth articles on what is happening in the area. For example, if any event, parade, or decision in our local court is going on, they cover it. This source also covers local crime and elections much more thoroughly, which I appreciate. One reason why I also enjoy reading the LaGrange Daily News is that I had the opportunity to serve as an intern for them a few summers ago. This was a really great experience and I got to learn a lot about the process of gathering and producing news. It is also great to be able to stay connected with my hometown and also to be able to use this local news source as a comparison to the larger ones.

If you are interested in this news source;

Here is the link to their website

    News is such an important part of our lives. We always need and want to be informed about what is happening around us. It is important to make sure that the information you read, see, or hear is ethical and consistent with other sources. This is why it is always smart to check more than one source, and why I personally steer away from the news giants, to get important information. I hope that the rundown of my top 5 sources provided a different perspective and hopefully some useful information to convince and show you some other great news sources.