Wednesday 22 September 2010

Religion taugh in schools vs First Amendment rights

After reading about certain activity proposed at a public school, I realize more fully when there is reasonable grounds to restrict first amendment rights.  I read of a school wanting to reenact the persecution of the Jews during the Nazi reign wearing yellow stars.  These symbols are not appropriate school and would not be right to be used outside of the particular class doing the simulation.  They could use less tolling symbolism, like wear some blue dot or such, and not risk bringing up the terrible memories of the mass murder and torture of the holocaust.  I think that I would not allow a school to do this were I to have an authoritative position.  I feel that it would be counterproductive to the education of those participating and would promote exclusion.  These cases are those when I am okay with a restriction on freedom of speech. 

Tuesday 14 September 2010

First post: first problem

Among the many problems facing America, a recurring one is that of the restrictions, or lack thereof, on citizens' first amendment rights.  This has proven itself to be a notably complicated predicament since no balance of regulations and protections with freedoms of expressions has thus far left all those affected satisfied.  A huge problem is what a university is able to restrict in order to protect its students without infringing upon constitutional freedoms.  Some colleges have had such ridiculous regulations as a campus-wide ban on dancing.  This was a poor choice of wording in an attempt to reduce the partying and underage drinking.  But banning dancing is just an absurdity.  Some more reasonable restrictions are more widely accepted such as those specifying a ban on acts that cause direct harm to others or put them in danger.  These such regulations are more to make sure that one's rights do not violate the same rights of another.  I can tolerate those laws, but when it comes to those as ridiculous as no dancing, I automatically cross the college off of my potential ones to apply to.