What is the world coming to!!

Well browsing online I came across an article that not only shocked me by its title, but grabbed my interest in finding out what is in the article. It is titled " A teacher, sexting and the right to free speech." Crazy right?? I was puzzled at first as to how these three things can tie in together, so I began to read the article. I was shocked, disgusted, and angered by the time I had finished reading the article. As a mother I found this to be insane and I am already on the skeptical side of leaving my child in the hands of a stranger but this makes me want to never let my daughter go to school ever again. To sum this article up, There are people out there (lawyers)  who have found a way to get their clients out of a really bad situation. They state in the article that a 31 teacher was dropped his charges from sexting, and receiving picture from a 13 year old student. The lawyer stated that he is  covered under his first amendment to free speech. I am shocked as to how this would even be a tad bit covered under the first amendment. This is insane. They also state he never had met up with the student outside of the school and had no physical contact with her. Really??!! This perv was texting a 13 year old girl! Asking her very inappropriate questions such as, " Do you walk around your house naked?" How in the hell is a grown man allowed to say this to a child and not be charged anything? How in anyones mind is this freedom of speech? There are so many things that are not protected under free speech, so how is this some home protected? I am sure there are many other parents out there who agree with me on this. I for one do not want a grown man or woman asking my child does she walk around nude or even want them to have any contact with my child outside of school. How is it okay that he is giving his personal number to a minor? There is no need for a teacher to reach a student, if there is something that is needed they should contact the minors parent. Its just crazy to read about this, and it makes me sad that this is something our country would consider or even protect as free speech. 

Cited Work

Mitchell, Mitch. "A Teacher, Sexting and the Right to Free Speech." Fort Worth Star-Telegram. N.p., 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 Mar. 2014. <http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/02/24/5596703/a-teacher-sexting-and-the-right.html>.

Valuable Information " Knowledge is Power"

Well browsing the Internet I came across a site that I feel is very valuable, not only for my own personal use but for all to know about. The site is " http://www.foia.gov." This site is based off the "Freedom of information Act" This law gives us American citizens the right to gather information from our federal government. It is a very easy site to use and gives you information that keeps you in the loop of what is going on. I Found information that helps to better understand what  freedom of speech really means. It was titled " What Does Free Speech Mean." I mean first thoughts would be well its pretty clear that it mean free to say whatever you wish to say. There is so much more to it then just words, freedom of speech is also referring to ones actions as well. It also states that under the first amendment that “Congress shall make no law...abridging freedom of speech.”  There are also many examples of what is allowed as free speech, that have their corresponding cases and year of the case connected to them. Along with what is considered approved rights of free speech, there is also a list of what is not included. With the not included rights of free speech they also have cases under them and there dates.  Another thing I like about this site is that it gives you The First Amendment Activities that are currently going on now.  All-in-All this is truly a amazing tool for United State Citizens to be aware of. Not only does it give you full information about our Federal Governments activities; It also gives us Facts and Case summaries, Fictional Scenarios, Procedures, Agendas, Talking Points, and Script. I feel this is a great find and Will be very informative to all. So check it out! 

- Mia G. 

Cited Work 

"What Does Free Speech Mean?" USCOURTSGOV RSS. This Site Is Maintained by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on Behalf of the Federal Judiciary., n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. <http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/get-involved/constitution-activities/first-amendment/free-speech.aspx>

Is there really a difference?

Does it make a difference how people will react to a plain violent movie vs. a violent movie that is based on real life events that happen around the world? Why is there a difference between A Batman move and a movie like Innocence of Muslims? I fell that violence is violence plain and simple. There is no sugar coating it or blaming what individuals do on a movie.. A movie is a writer/directors vision or their free speech. To put out to the world for other to view and take in how ever they may wish to do so. So when I came across this news broadcast and short article it amazed me to see something like this. A low budget film made headlines after a actress accused them of not telling her what the whole movie was about? I mean it is pretty clear what this movie is about just by seeing the images. So for her to say she was tricked into something is kind of pushing the limits. I am glad the judge proceeding this case didn't not force websites to remove the trailers. It is just another movie depicting life and life events that do occur. I personally find movies such as these to be interesting, it gives you some insight to other countries and their life styles and ways they live or do things. I can see as how some may become upset over movies as these. Does it really help to become upset or angry with whom ever was involved in the film. It is just kind of a sour situation for everyone involved I suppose. 

http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Free-speech-rights-fuel-debate-over-anti-Muslim-movie-clip-online-170604596.html?tab=video&c=y



Cited Work

Fergus, Carol on. "Free Speech Rights Fuel Debate over Anti-Muslim Movie Clip."BakersfieldNow.com - KBAK and KBFX News. N.p., 20 Sept. 2012. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. <http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Free-speech-rights-fuel-debate-over-anti-Muslim-movie-clip-online-170604596.html?tab=video&c=y>.

Who has the last say anyways?

So, I was reading a article online about vanity plates. Vanity plates are unique license plates that allow you to personalize your  plate. I have always believed that as long as the plates had no vulgar meaning or hate filled words, and were not currently being used by another individual that you could pretty much put whatever it was on a plate. Then I found this article in " The Atlanta Journal-Constitution," So now I am sure there are limits to what people can have on their vanity plates, but is it fair? In my personal opinion I do not see this whole approval/denial format to be free what so ever! To be quit honest it was insulting what Mr. Gilbert had to go through when he tried to personalize his plate. It is not only denying him his freedom to express himself for whom he is but it also is a way of silencing his speech. So why do we still have such bias individuals making these decisions on what can be plated and what is not allowed to plated? We are in the 21st century now! There comes a time when people need to get over what once was thought to be a adequate mind set on how society should be! Why is okay to approve DRBIBLE but not BIBLE?? They both are non-harming or hateful, but yet one was approved to be a vanity plate and the other was denied due to its religious form?? What is wrong with GAYPWR or GAYGUY?? I mean this individual was only trying to express to all who he is, that he is proud to be himself and that he deserves every right as the next guy does. How are political views still being allowed to influence our decisions? I can understand if something being requested is hateful, vulgar, or inappropriate, But these do not come any where near to these ones. I mean it is not anything new anymore, maybe in the 80 or even 90 is was rare to see or looked down on. Now it has become something normal, You say same sex relationships all the time. So I support Mr. Gilbert's views and what he is doing to make sure he is able to use his rights. 



Cited Work

Pell, M.B. "ISUE4U: Georgia Sued over Banned Vanity Plates."Http://www.ajc.com/news/news/isue4u-state-sued-over-banned-vanity-plates/nT3th/. N.p., 21 Jan. 2013. Web. 27 Feb. 2014. <http://www.ajc.com/news/news/isue4u-state-sued-over-banned-vanity-plates/nT3th/>.

Aren't YOU Glad To Be A American??

Not everyone understands how much us Americans have to be grateful for. We all to often forget the benefits of being a American citizen and all the rights we have. I for one have fallen in this category on more then one occasion. Not everyone has the same privileges as us, so let me go on to an article that I read today. The article I came across was about the country Turkey, they have a constitutional republic system and as well have a president just as we do. Their president has limited powers, as to where their legislation has a single parliament. As with all countries there are human right problems within their country.  Just one of their human right problems had to do with their government interference with freedom of expression. They had multiple  articles that were held and were not published due to restrictions to  their freedom of press and also to the Internet as well. There were many journalists who were thrown in jail because they failed to follow antiterror laws and this had them connected to illegal organizations. Which is not true but to them they were because they weren't following their restrictions. When they reformed the judicial package there were nearly 400 books banned because they were no longer prohibited by the country. Talk about stripping them of their free will of expression right? There have been many journalists and authors whom became afraid of saying anything that would be considered criticizing their state or government. If they were to be found to be doing so this would result in civil, criminal, and investigations placed on them. There were political leaders and prime ministers that began to sue critics for falsely injuring their good reputations.  It even came to the point were their government started to harass anyone who had sympathy for certain religions, political , nationalist, and cultural viewpoints. They even began to limit their rights to freedom of assembly. Their government lacked the adequate protection to the people. This included but was not limited to; women, children, gay, and transgender individuals. There was no protection from honor killings, or children being forced into marriages. This is just a few of the rights that the Men, Women, and Children face in the country of Turkey. 

To read more please go to:: http://www.globalroadwarrior.com/ContentInfo.asp?iso3ltr=TUR&nid=76.01&cid=150&next_nid=76.02&parent=Human%20Rights



Work Cited:


The Global Road Warrior. "Turkey: Human Rights Report 2012." The Global Road Warrior. World Trade Press. Web. 20 February 2014 <http://www.globalroadwarrior.com/ContentInfo.asp?iso3ltr=TUR&nid=76.01&cid=150&next_nid=76.02&parent=Human%20Rights>.

For our Past, For our Present, and For our Future Freedom!!

I recently came across an article written by Daphne Patai called " Ray Bradbury and the Assault on Free Thought." Ray Bradbury is a successful writer. He began writing short stories called Fahrenheit 451. In the article it goes into great detail about the author Ray and his short stories. It also talks about how he was in tuned with the fact that television could control peoples minds. They talk a lot about his books and it seems as they were more geared to the future of mankind. The reason I feel that it is the future of Americans is because, he talks about large televisions that are wall size big and about cities being destroyed and people having to live in nature to survive destruction. He talks about television broadcast as growing large because there is less effort in watching and listening to television. He also writes how television broadcast were made to gather large sums of peoples attention, it was not intended to grasp only a few people here and there. The article even talks about President Roosevelt and how he started federal funding to libraries . He also made the statement,  “the great tools of scholarship, the great repositories of culture, and the great symbols of the freedom of the mind.” (President Roosevelt). As the article continues to progress  on it starts to lead up to the fears that Bradbury had have free speech being taken away. Patai begins to write about colleges taking control and power over individuals free wills. Patai goes on to start quoting Bradburys book " We [the firemen] stand against the small tide of those who want to make everyone unhappy with conflicting theory and thought. We have our fingers in the dike." (Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451) Patai also goes on to mention different political persuasions have always tried to end free speech and any thoughts that they did not approve of.  The write goes on to tell moments that have occurred in Muslim counties, bout them not having the freedom of expression or actions. It talks bout Muslims as not speaking but having riot outburst. They also talk bout being unable to reenact Muslim events because there beliefs override free expression. The article event mentions a group called FIRE, they bring forth issues and matters that pertain to free speech and how others are trying to silence others rights. They fight for the rights of individuals. 

Work Cite:

Bradbury, R. 1979. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Ballantine Books

[orig. pub. 1953].

FIRE: The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

www.thefire.org

Patai, Daphne. "Ray Bradbury and the Assault on Free Thought." Society 50.1 (2013): 41-47. Print.

DOI 10.1007/s12115-012-9617-x

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.libproxy.maricopa.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=c31afa72-c1c0-4aa2-b31b-1974df6cb2fb%40sessionmgr114&hid=115

George Washington said it best!

“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
― George Washington

Sir George Washington had the right mind set that led us to our future now. Thank you sir! Though this quote is short it is sweet and has great meaning behind it. He was a wise man that knew ones voice, words, have great meaning. It is true if our freedom of speech were to be taken from us and others would be allowed to speak for us does it make what they say right. Hell NO! It could be the blind leading the blind ... It is just like dying. what would be the point of life is we are not creating it?