There”s been some noise lately about people”s First Amendment rights being violated, more specifically in chat rooms or online forums.
July is First Amendment month. So it”s a good time to discuss what the First Amendment is and what it is not.
The First Amendment was written as a guarantee to Americans to protect basic freedoms.
The First Amendment protects freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly and petition.
Some people are not clear on what this means.
There are more than 10 million forums and discussion spaces on the Internet. The spaces are the property of the domain owner. In other words, these are businesses. Some people argue their freedom of speech is being violated if they are denied access to posting on a Web site. That is actually not true. Consider it as though you are physically walking into a business, suppose that business is a preschool. You begin to talk about Stephen King movies and you scare the small children. The owners or managers of the preschool ask you to leave because the content of the conversation is inappropriate for the venue.
As with any business, the right is often reserved to refuse service. Online forums typically offer a service.
Historically, in the newspaper industry there is accountability. People are encouraged to exercise free speech by intelligently and respectfully writing letters to the editor. The process is pretty standard and the writer takes ownership of his or her words. All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar and factual accuracy. Name calling, local business bashing, obscenities and hate mongering are unacceptable. Hold your letter to no more than 400 words. Long letters will be returned for editing.
The policy for writing a letter to the editor at the Record-Bee is as follows: “Do not send form letters, copies of letters sent to others, material from the Internet, letters attacking other letter writers, open letters or letters in the form of poetry.
Letters should be signed, except e-mail letters. Include full name, town of residence and phone number for verification purposes.” People should be able to express themselves inside of those guidelines without a problem.
Courts wrangle daily with First Amendment controversies and constitutional challenges.
The Internet puts a whole new spin on it. It”s an arena that has not been addressed fully or adequately.
It”s as if unlicensed, immature and reckless drivers are speeding along uninformed or misinformed on the information superhighway and there are not enough cops to stop them or laws to prevent catastrophe.
As a news person, the First Amendment is essential.
America”s first newspaper, Publick Occurrences, appeared in Boston in 1690.
During that era the printed word was the primary source of communication.
Prior to America becoming a nation newspapers were careful not to offend. Eventually oppression led to revolt. Newspapers rallied for freedom during the American Revolution. When Americans gained independence, newspapers reported the activities of the new government and those in charge of creating the Constitution.
A debate between the Federalists and the Anti-Federalists ensued over whether a Bill of Rights and the First Amendment would become a part of the Constitution. Newspapers brought public awareness to the forefront. It”s still true today that reporting often incites change. It”s an amazing feeling to be a part of a non-violent system that functions on fact and truth. Words are the vehicle to exposure.
As an American, the First Amendment is imperative for my freedom.
The U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787. At that time the Constitution did not contain the essential freedoms now outlined in the Bill of Rights. When the Bill of Rights was adopted the first freedoms guaranteed were articulated in the 45 words written by James Madison that we know as the First Amendment.
Justice William Brennan wrote in New York Times v. Sullivan in 1964, the First Amendment provides that “debate on public issues … [should be] … uninhibited, robust, and wide-open.”
“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.”
? The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
