Right to freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition and its importance

In a democratic form of government, the right for individual citizens to raise their concerns either in support or objection of policies and issues affecting them is quite crucial.  Indeed, it is due to this reason why we have the first amendment of the civil bill of rights. The amendment prohibits governments interference off its citizens right to express their concerns. This essay is a discussion of the 1st amendment with emphasis on the right to freedom of speech and how it is important to the author. 

Fairness and justice is the society is realized only when an individual has the right to be heard (Edgar, 2002). The right to expression thus guarantees an individual this fundamental right. According to this right, in a criminal justice court, the accused has the right to question witnesses to quantify their presented evidence (Yale Law School, 2008). Man is by almost all aspects self-centered. This means that in any criminal proceedings, the aim of providing witness is to convict the charged of the claimed offense. However, for ensuring justice and fair judgment, the accused are guaranteed of their constitutional right to defend themselves from malicious evidence. This can only be achieved by provoking the right of expression in the first amendment of the bill of rights.

The democracy of a nation is build from the influence of the majority in the society. The freedom of forming and join groups for collective bargaining for or against government policies is thus important in a democratic government. The right to freedom of speech and its provision for political speech is thus an important tool in ensuring that the government gives us what is important for the society (Edgar, 2002).  According to the first amendment, individuals or political candidates have the constitutional right to engage in political debates without government interference. Therefore, the right to expression gives citizens the power to shape their law making process by freely expressing their concerns to pressurize the government in ensuring acceptable, fair and just laws.

The right to freedom of speech prohibits the government from interfering with citizens private lives. On the provisions of obscenity, the right clearly protects individuals for possessing, reading and watching any material provided it does not compromise the constitutional rights of others (Edgar, 2002). This means that privacy of an individual as a form of expression is a constitutional right that cannot be taken away by the government. Still, this right is reflective of commerce as a way of improving the lives of American citizens. On this concern, the right guarantees American citizens the right to conduct commercial advertisement without government interference.

Relationships among the various members of the human community are made rather than natural. Even the most basic relationship of family relies on communication for its sustainable harmonious existence (Edgar, 2002). Therefore by employing the right of expression individual are free to share, socialize, form strong relations and grow together, thus enjoying the competitive advantages of unity. The right prohibits the government from either interfering with free flow of information between individuals or negating the privacy of the information (Yale Law School, 2008). This ensures expression secrecy, reliability and confidentiality for American citizens.

In conclusion, it is only by respecting the right to freedom of speech that American nation has reached this far. It helps us to shape legislations as it allows and protects our right to political speech (Edgar, 2002). The right also ensures relationship by engaging in free negotiations and discussions to find lasting solution to problems. Therefore, we should live to respect and uphold the right to freedom pf speech if fairness and justice is to be sustained among the citizens of the United States of America.

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