The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, protects five freedoms. The amendment states that “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.” These 230-year-old freedoms, essential to our democracy, are often taken for granted. We as Americans need to understand how they continue to allow us to live in a free society. If we do not, we may lose not only them but all of our freedoms.
The freedoms given to us by the Constitution are ingrained in our daily lives. Every American should take some time to think about why the Founding Fathers even wrote the First Amendment. The First Amendment helps guarantee our freedoms. Citizens in non-democratic countries like Saudi Arabia, China, Vietnam, North Korea, and Jordan are being threatened and harmed since they do not have these freedoms. These governments do not afford their citizens the same rights of expression. The people of these countries are denied a voice, women/religious minorities are discriminated against, punishment is inhumane, and they are not acknowledged as an active part of their government.
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The Founding Fathers did not want the United States to be like these countries. By having the First Amendment, we can be protected from oppression. Citizens of the United States do not have to live with the recurring fear of not having the right to express their thoughts, and the media is allowed to report on issues without censure. Citizens also are free to practice any religion, or advocate and protest for what each individual thinks is right. As Americans, we are allowed to express our beliefs and call out the government because of the protection of the First Amendment.
I believe citizens of the United States do not realize how different our country would be without our freedoms and democracy. We have had this amendment for so long that it is hard to think about what our country would be like without it. We need to stop taking it for granted, though. In today’s society, we have seen many protests and movements that are making changes to better our country. From my standpoint, the importance of the First Amendment in our lives is not something that should be taken lightly. This amendment allows our citizens to hold our government accountable and make America a better place to live. In fact, right now, as you are reading this, I am using one of my five guaranteed rights protected by the First Amendment.
