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Bill of Rights Project Reflection

In this project, the student learned that freedom of speech applies not just to saying whatever you want, but also to creative expression. While this right is in the Constitution, what constitutes offensive or unsuitable content is often debated. The student studied cases involving video games and bloggers where freedom of speech was upheld, as well as cases like Irvine 11 where it was restricted. These cases don't just affect the individuals involved but influence everyday discussion of issues in America. The debate over freedom of speech will likely continue as interpretations of the Constitution evolve.

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Miss A
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112 views1 page

Bill of Rights Project Reflection

In this project, the student learned that freedom of speech applies not just to saying whatever you want, but also to creative expression. While this right is in the Constitution, what constitutes offensive or unsuitable content is often debated. The student studied cases involving video games and bloggers where freedom of speech was upheld, as well as cases like Irvine 11 where it was restricted. These cases don't just affect the individuals involved but influence everyday discussion of issues in America. The debate over freedom of speech will likely continue as interpretations of the Constitution evolve.

Uploaded by

Miss A
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Bill of Rights Project Reflection

In this project, I feel that I learned a lot about freedom of speech. Whereas I used to think that this
freedom only applied to protecting our right to being able to say what ever we want, I now know that
people look to freedom of speech for all sorts of things, and it is more of the freedom to express
yourself through words, music, or art forms than just say what you want to. Even though this right is
plainly stated in the Constitution, it is often tested by those who feel that some spoken and written
material is offensive, or not suitable for children. All three of the articles that I chose to study show this.
Often, like in the video games issue, it comes down ton what is best for the health and well being of our
country or allowing that freedom to be used in every way possible, which really makes people wonder
what the Founding Fathers would have said about these issues.

Even though the freedom of speech issue causes a debate, this right is still being upheld by the courts.
So far, several cases taken to the courts have been ruled in favor of freedom of speech, like the case
against blogger Hal Turner. Also, in a Supreme Court case involving a proposed California legislation that
would ban the sale and rental of video games to minors, it was ruled that this was unconstitutional,
seeing as video games are viewed as an art form and self-expression, and the bill was pulled. Although
some cases have paved the way for upholding freedom of speech, some have done the opposite. Cases
like the Irvine 11 case, where the defendant is denied freedom of speech, or punished for what they said
or did are also common.

Cases like these affect the lives of the people involved greatly, but the people who are not directly
involved with the case are affected as well. Everyday Americans are affected by our right to freedom of
speech everyday. Some times we are impacted in a good way, like getting to say what we think and
express ourselves. Even if we are not aware of it, we put our freedom of speech to use everyday,
whether it be expressing opinions about how America's government is set up, blogging about what we
think should be done with this country, or writing a controversial story. But, sometimes our right to
freedom of speech is taken away. In some instances it is taken away in a major, definitive, way like in the
Irvine 11 case, but also in some smaller ways, like student's rights being restricted, and laws banning the
sale of video games to minors being proposed.

Even though this is one of the more basic rights, and is a part of our founding document, the
Constitution, it is still being debated over today. I feel like this debate will never be finished, unless we
were to make some drastic changes to our government. I also don't think the founding fathers realized
what a debate they would stir up by giving us all these freedoms, and would be surprised at the ways we
deal with these arguments. Even though we argue incessantly over what the Constitution really means, I
think that the younger generation who is studying the Bill of Rights just like we did in this project will
find a better way of solving these problems and help our country overcome one of it's greatest hurdles.

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