When our Founding Fathers framed the Bill of Rights, they did so with thought and consideration. Perhaps nowhere is that as evident as it is in the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects many of our rights and, in the bright light of the 21rst century, is timeless. It may be the basis of all of our freedoms.
The First Amendment protects our ability to speak freely. It gives us the right to assemble freely and to practice our religions. Among other things, the First Amendment has allowed us to develop into the nation we are today.
The First Amendment has been tested in ways our founding fathers could not have imagined. Television, radio, motion pictures, the Internet – all have given the citizens of the United States a platform on which they could stand, could speak their minds and could be heard.
While there have been some rulings that have negated some of the absolute freedom granted by the First Amendment, the overwhelming heart of the amendment still stands tall. It is this amendment which gives us the ability to freely discuss our political views on Internet discussion boards, to practice our religion, to pen a letter to the editor of the local paper expressing our dissatisfaction with a law or a political candidate.
In short, the First Amendment is our freedom. It has made us into the country that we are. It is because of this timeless amendment that American’s will continue to have the freedom to express themselves even as technology continues to change and advance.