The freedom of speech
Congress shall make no law... ...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...
(Part of the 1st amendment of the United States constitution, #1 of the Bill of Rights)
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The freedom of speech covers a lot of territory.
Everything from music to strippers to artists, adult magazines, videos and more. People have the right to express themselves; verbally, in print, in the web, via video even on the corner of the capitol building. We would be appalled at an event like China had in Tiananmen square, but that is exactly what can happen without the fundamental right of freedom of speech.
We don’t live in a country of banned internet sites and government control of information. This country has flourished with innovation and has become a better place to live over the years with it’s citizens and artists, even cartoonists speaking up about politics and social repression.
But how many people used that freedom to contact their representative when a new law was passed in Nashville keeping “Adult Bookstores: closed on Sundays and limiting their hours to shutdown at midnight. This issue really concerns me. The government limiting access to printed and video materials to ADULTS, and this law was written in a way that could restrict free speech in other areas as well. This law could affect you enjoying a midnight show with your loved one, or the anime club at Vanderbilt from having a festival, even your local bdsm club could be forced out of business with this arcane assault on your adult rights... and many people just saw a blurb on TV or the paper and went on with their business not thinking about the fact that the government is chipping away at your rights... divide and conquer, divided they will fall.. keep chipping away slowly and one day everyone wakes up wondering how we became a place just like China or Iraq and feel better about it, because everything is being done with our security in mind.
Musicians and artists thrive on the 1st amendment, and many people have fought hard to keep this freedom alive for us today. Had it not been for Larry flint and Penthouse we may still be stuck in a 1950s world of sexual censorship, which leads to sexual repression and lack of learning and understanding. When I was in school they taught me that :That which is repressed, comes out in harmful ways”. Hence the dark ages of Europe and the complete rebirth and renaissance era that followed when all the restrictions were lifted from artists and the people.
I may not agree with the all the art that is depicted in every church in this country, and every church in this country may not agree with the art that I choose to create or enjoy. But I for one will not tell them what they can and cannot express, and I expect the same respect to be extended to me. It is a fundamental right for every American citizen.
Even the Patriot Act doesn’t allow the government to burn or ban books. (Though it does allow them unfettered access to your library and video rental records), how long will we stand for the chipping away of our rights.. where will the line be drawn? What if you were told that you can not have your gun after midnight and it must be in a time locked safe on Sundays. Or you can’t buy a bible on Sunday, after all people would have to work in order for you to purchase it and working on a Sunday is illegal.
The fourth Amendment to the Constitution , the 4th right in the Bill of Rights has been completely suspended by the United States Patriot Act, but that is a whole ‘nother web site, this is TNAPEX, which is about expression. However will you just sit there watching TV and not notice your rights being taken away? Have you written you representatives about the Patriot Act, or the New Patriot Act II and asked why he votes against your rights and for government control?
I believe the implications of the Patriot Act do affect our right to Free Speech and expression, because creates a state of big brother watching you and watch you watch and what you say, which limits what people may read or publish. Here is an overview of the changes made to our laws, more information can be found at EPIC.org
The USA PATRIOT Act introduced sweeping changes to U.S. law, including amendments to:
Wiretap Statute (Title III):
Electronic Communications Privacy Act
Computer Fraud and Abuse Act
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
Pen Register and Trap and Trace Statute
Money Laundering Act
Immigration and Nationality Act
Money Laundering Control Act
Bank Secrecy Act
Right to Financial Privacy Act
Fair Credit Reporting Act
For details about how the patriot act affects your internet usage see the overview at EFF.org.
Related Links:
The Free Speech Coalition
See more on our links page.
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