The Pros And Cons Of The First Amendment

On September 21st, Christine Brennan reported Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand while the national anthem was being played in National Public Radio’s (NPR) online portal (www.npr.org). All through the National Football League 's preseason matches, Colin Kaepernick, a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, refused to stand for the national anthem. He clarified that he took this stance to point out what he sees as wrongdoings against African-Americans and different minorities, especially with regards to certain atrocities in police activities. Kaepernick has stated he is showing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which was sparked by a number of police killing innocent black people. When addressed by journalists after the first occasion when he did not stand for the national anthem, Kaepernick stated that, “he would not show respect or pride in a flag for a country that continues to oppress African Americans and people of color.” He added that this was much bigger than any game and that it would be selfish on his part to look away. He also claims that there were bodies lying on the streets and people were getting away with murder. I don’t think Brennan understands why he chose not to stand fully. I think this also could have led to more attacks from other writers and reporters that have been inform of his true reasoning. I do not think he was disrespecting the flag or people that fight for it, but just making a stance to get

The first amendment was ratified in 1791. The first amendment gives people the rights to religion, freedom of speech, press, assembly and petition. As many things in life the first amendment has its positives and negatives. For instance people who have other beliefs can now go out and practice those beliefs. Before it wasn’t like that, you had no choice of what religion you wanted. If you were born a Christian that’s what you would have to be. Now Christian’s become Catholics or Catholics become Christians. A negative about the right to practice religions is others practice religions for the wrong things. For instance they join Islamic religions to hurt others not saying it’s always the case it has happened. What I would do to make it better would be that if you would like to change you’re religious beliefs you’d have to take an oath. With the oath being you are practicing a new religion for a good cause. It doesn’t intervene with the amendment because they are still allowed to change there religion. Although freedom of religion is not what the amendment says. Colin Kaeprnjck was hated for not standing up for the flag. He was refused the first amendment. He did not want to stand up for a country that has shown no remorse to people of color. Civil disobedience by David Thoreau was written for a reason. Rules are meant to be broken, you should be allowed to not stand up for the national anthem of you don’t want to. Now we have the right of freedom of speech, some say what’s so great about that we won’t be heard anyway. Their wrong freedom of speech has helped us pass so many laws we didn’t even know about. Freedom of speech is used to fight for change all the rights we have today wouldn’t have been without the help of free speech. Freedom of speech is not only the ability to speak but also to hear others and what they believe. A negative out come on freedom of speech would be that people will feel over powered and believe they can overcome anything. They’ll think they are always going to get it their way and when they don’t chaos will occur. It has changed over the years before speaking out would lead to you getting arrested, beat, etc. I would try and change people’s perspective on how everything we fight

The First Amendment was created in a way, to ensure that all those who seek freedom, in speech, press, religion, and assembling can do so. However, recently freedom of religion has not been fully secured. For instance, there has been bans against immigrants sorely because of their religion stereotype. Something that is contradictory to the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion...". The First Amendment should be able to encourage each and every religious freedom, because people no longer feel safe about expressing their religion as the United States government have shown favoritism towards other certain religions. And since numbers are rising in certain religions, diversity should be accepted and shown throughout the U.S. and by the government.

The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of; 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.” Christianity is one of the oldest and most popular religions of the United States. This makes it very easy for Christians to be ridiculed. The First Amendment is allegedly ensured to every American, but Christians have to fight to keep their First Amendment Rights.

The Amendment left open possibilities, that states could establish voter qualifications equally to all races. Many states took advantage of this position, establishing poll taxes and literacy tests among other qualifications, which were prohibited later with help of Voting Rights Act.

As the primary law of the land, the Constitution establishes all succeeding laws that would cater to the development and progress of a nation. The United States, with almost half a millennia of political practice has created for itself a system spanning the entire modern free world.

We want to forget about politics, personal problems, and we look forward to sports, music, art and any other forms of entertainments. Everyone has a different view, opinion, ideas and that’s why we have the men and women in uniform who fought for us and are currently fighting. However, we have the first amendment and other amendment in the constitution which applies when unfairness cause a disruption of a population. In addition, the amendment is a book of rules, and for me as long as we are following the rules and not physical and emotional harming others, we deserve to protest in a safe way. We can interpret opinions in different forms, however, if we stop and reflect on that particular message we can find different interpretation and meaningful hidden messages.

The main opposition of to this would be mainly to keep our amendments intact. Many people believe that the lack of being able to express themselves freely would take away from their first amendment. As stated by Mince-Didier, Freedom of speech allows for people to be able to express themselves freely as long as it's not a threat or a crime. (Ave Mince-Didier). Many people believe if they are not allowed to say what's on their mind that their first amendment right is being taken away. Therefore people should not be punished for speaking freely towards others or their opinion. As long as it's not a violent threat it should be unpunished.

Colin Kaepernick exercised his first amendment rights by peacefully kneeling in protest for the mistreatment of colored people in this country. His main goal was to make people realize what is happening in this country. With the recent innocent killings of unarmed black men such as, Alton Sterling, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray and many others. The American flag is supposed to represent liberty, freedom, and justice for all but, these things are not happening for all right now in this country. The selfless act that Kaep is taking is way bigger then him, he is speaking for people who don’t have a voice or the platform to start a conversation.

Also, not standing for the national anthem is a legal form of peaceful protest, which is a First Amendment right. And even though President Obama disagreed with Kaepernick’s actions he did say that Colin was "exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there 's a long history of sports figures doing so" (ProCon.org)

Colin Kaepernick, a professional football player, is making a statement by kneeling during the national anthem to show his discomfort in the way the minorities have been treated. It is his natural right to protest as a citizen of the United States. He is being criticized and ridiculed for protest, something this country was started by. He has received multiple death threats from people of this country.

The former president, Barack Obama said “Kaepernick was exercising his constitutional right to make a statement”(pro 3). The Constitution and his platform as a professional athlete gives him the right to stand up for what he believes

On August 14, Colin Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49ers quarterback, sat during the national anthem. Before anyone really noticed, he sat the following two games as well, then it finally became viral. It wasn’t laziness that caused him to sit, nor an injury, but a peaceful protest. Kaepernick sat to protest rampant police brutality and injustice against black people in the United States. This protest became a topic widely debated during the presidential election, and eventually when drafting season came around for football, Kaepernick was blackballed from joining any teams because of this controversy. The American people had a lot to say about how protest should be peaceful without disrespect, which they say Colin could have had avoided doing, but they fail to realize that protest isn’t supposed to cater to your convenience. Protest is a fundamental right Americans have. Whether it be walkouts from schools or marching in the streets, protest is effective when it’s done en mass, and what better way to get the message out than on TV, where millions of Americans tune in to watch beefy men throw an egg-shaped ball around.

August 26, 2016, the first day Colin Kaepernick takes a knee during the National Anthem in a pre-season NFL game. Once people found out what he did, the country went crazy and people starting taking sides immediately. Some think he should never be seen again, while others truly supported him for the message he was trying to put out there. Once more players started taking a knee or raising their fist in the air, the question came about whether college athletes or even high school athletes should have the right to do the same. Technically they do have the right because of the first amendment, but would that really show a good message to the fans of the team, your teammates, or even your coach. What Kaepernick started is one of the biggest controversies our country has had in a long time and I believe that we as people should not interfere with a situation that doesn’t involve us.

Two of Kaepernick’s reason for taking a knee was to protest against racial injustice, which is the unfair treatment towards minorities, and to protest against police brutality against blacks and other minorities. Police brutality is a system of the wrongdoing by some police officers which involves unnecessary violence. There were many situations where police had no right doing certain things to citizens. There are some people who just believe that all police are bad, but that is not true. Yes, I believe and know that there are some bad police officers out there, who will eventually get caught with whatever they are doing wrong and must face the consequences for their actions, but not all police officers are bad. Kaepernick decided to protest on his own against what he thought was going on in society. Many people were not happy with his protest. Some wondered what