Safety vs Freedom of Speech Essay - 711 Words

Look around you America. Your world is changing. Suddenly it’s no longer safe to fly in airplanes, attend sporting events, or just open your junk mail. Almost daily, news of threats and security breach’s litter the airwaves, leaving many asking the same question. â€Å"How can we make our country safe again?† Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer. America is united in the cause, but divided over the methods of preventing terrorism. At this time of uncertainty, many are urging Americans to â€Å"give up† some of their freedoms and privacy in exchange for safety. Regrettably, this wave of patriotism has spilled over, and is beginning to infringe on our fundamental liberties as outlined in the Bill of Rights. Since the September 11th terrorist†¦show more content†¦Following the September 11th terrorist’s attacks, Bill Maher, host of the controversial late night television show Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, outraged an alre ady shell-shocked America. During the show he attacked our military by saying â€Å"We have been the cowards lobbing cruise missiles from 2, 000 miles away. That’s cowardly† (Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher). He continued by essentially expressing respect for the hijackers, saying â€Å"Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, [is] not cowardly† (Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher). Not surprisingly, Maher has been publicly ridiculed since making these statements. Two of the show’s sponsors pulled their advertising, and several local affiliates have taken the show off the air. The reaction to Maher’s statements has been swift: apologize, praise America and maybe you’ll get to keep your job. The reluctance of America to â€Å"speak up† became obvious after â€Å"the government bungled the poisonous anthrax letter sent to Sen. Tom Daschle† (Gergen). Instead of taking proper precautions for everyone at risk, our government chose to provide â€Å"immediate protection to the politicians and their staffs while neglecting the safety of the postal workers† (Gergen). This blunder cost two postal workers their lives. Yet, both the public and media remain silent. Dissenters today dread the wrath of anShow MoreRelatedProtecting Life, Liberty, and Property in the Bill of Rights848 Words   |  4 PagesThe writers intention of the Bill of Rights was to ensure the safety of citizens rights without them being violated. Most amendments apply in daily life, but it might not show. The First amendment, freedom of speech, amendment two, the right to bear arms, and amendment four, protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. These three amendments are a major factor in daily lives for citizens. Amendment one, freedom of speech is a very important factor for all citizens to have. AmendmentRead MoreCase Analysis : Schenck V. 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It is a vital tool because it can be used by every person, rich, poor, black or white, to voice their concerns and rejections of the federal orRead MoreThe Rights Of Our Privacy Essay1695 Words   |  7 Pagesan effortless way for them to violate their power and strip citizens of their constitutional rights. People will argue that the price one has to pay for safety, is giving up their rights to privacy. As Benjamin Franklin once said, â€Å"Those wh o would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety† (Independence Hall Association). In other words, those willing to give up their privacy for security, deserve neither. We the people, those who assemble