Am. Freedom

2 Pages 583 Words

Freedom in America No other democratic society in the world permits personal freedoms to the
degree of the United States of America. Within the last sixty years, American courts, especially
the Supreme Court, have developed a set of legal doctrines that thoroughly protect all forms of
the freedom of expression. When it comes to evaluating the degree to which we take advantage of
the opportunity to express our opinions, some members of society may be guilty of violating the
bounds of the First Amendment by publicly offending others through obscenity or racism.
Americans have developed a distinct disposition toward the freedom of expression
throughout history. The First Amendment clearly voices a great American respect toward the
freedom of religion. It also prevents the government from "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." Since the early history of our country, the protection of basic freedoms has
been of the utmost importance to Americans.
In Langston Hughes' poem, "Freedom," he emphasizes the struggle to enjoy the freedoms
that he knows are rightfully his. He reflects the American desire for freedom now when he says, "I
do not need my freedom when I'm dead. I cannot live on tomorrow's bread." He recognizes the
need for freedom in its entirety without compromise or fear. He depicts how people of all
backgrounds worked together for one cause: freedom. Among the many forms of protests are
pickets, strikes, public speeches and rallies.
Recently in New Jersey, more than a thousand community activists rallied to draft a
"human" budget that puts the needs of the poor and handicapped as a top priority. Rallies are an
effective means for people to use their freedoms effectively to bring about change from the
government. Freedom of spe...