Argumentative Essay: The First Amendment

"The First Amendment is the epitome of what it means to be an American. Symbolic of our personal liberties and rebel attitudes, the first amendment was the first right citizens of a new country had. While the interpretations of this right vary, most agree it means protecting the speech of citizens from the overbearingness and restrictions of government. In the land of the free this right is deemed as necessary, however it has come into question over and over again whether this rule can be broken or bended to accommodate the reaches of safety. What do Americans value more highly, Safety or Free Speech? Can Americans trust the government with their own safety? Can the government trust citizens with their full rights to free speech? These conflicts of interest have been debated since the formation of our country under the federalists and the national republicans. Is it more beneficial to have a big and powerful government, or to live in complete freedom and self control? We see this controversy bleed over into modern times. When new and

For instance, government intervention on student cyber bullying is considered by some to be a direct violation of the freedom of speech. But where do we draw the line between ensuring the safety of students, and allowing students to speak freely? Certainly it is unconstitutional to monitor students cell phones and computers 24/7. But is it unconstitutional on campus? I’d argue that the best way to ensure students safety at school is to monitor communication on school devices and school wifi. It is essential to provide students a feeling of safety in order to maximize their academic performance. However, outside of school it would be a violation of student’s privacy and right of free speech to monitor their communication. This should also be done at a local level. Not a state or federal