Eight Values of Free Expression 

Out of all eight speech theories I resonate with Protect Dissent most. This theory embodies the true meaning of America by letting us disagree and criticize out government. This resonates with me because during this current year (2020) there has been a lot of decisions that the government made that I don’t agree with starting with the continuous systematic oppression on African Americans in this country. Imagine living in a society where your very own ancestors built this country from the ground up yet for 450 years there is yet to be equality and justice for all. I can’t count the times I woke up this year and went onto twitter and Instagram and saw a video of a black man or woman getting shot by the police. As a child I was taught to avoid the police if possible. I was warned that if I get pulled over by the cops, I need to immediately put both hands on the steering wheel and try to record if possible. I was taught to not catch and attitude with the officer and when they ask for your license or registration you ask the officer for permission to reach in your own property to show them what they asked for. I was taught in the second grade that I will always have to work twice as hard than a white person just because of what I can’t control… my skin. I have seen that my skin is a threat. My skin makes some nervous and uncomfy. I supposedly live in the “Land of the Free” and the “Home of the Brave”, but how can it be free is 450 years later we’re still fighting for out God given human rights. All we want is to be able to feel safe with the police, not fear them. All we want is to be able to walk down a sidewalk with an Arizona tea and skittles and not have to worry about getting shot by a white supremacist in our own neighborhood. All we want is for the President of the United States to denounce the very people who are still lynching our people to this day. Is that so hard to ask for? How come the government cares for white lives but barely acknowledges black lives. We live in a time where you can’t trust anyone, and the main thing that I should be able to trust is the government… Where me and my people should’ve always been free.

The Progressive Era

What is antiwar? Antiwar is a social movement in opposition to a particular nation’s decision to start or carry on armed conflict. One thing you don’t see nor hear about in mainstream media is the antiwar movement. Many people wonder why but I think the reason is that it’s not popular to go against the government. The antiwar movement is often known to be very ruthless and harsh by the way they report things and they also are known to go against the perfect, ideal America view. The reason why these antiwar websites can be hard to find is because most people who have this view are not public about it due to the backlash it would have in every aspect of their life such a socially, work wise and it could even hurt financially if they have a business because people could find out their views and no longer want to spend their money there. If antiwar was a positive movement don’t you think people would be proud to say and express their feelings and what they’re apart of? I believe this is one of the instances where being different has a negative connotation attached to it especially when it comes to the government here in America.

The Founding Era

The Founding Era

The supreme court of the United States is the highest federal court in the country which is a part of the judicial branch. There are nine at the moment who have the power to check any actions the executive branch and the legislative branch. The Constitution influenced Congress exercise the power of the Judiciary Act of 1789 which was signed into law by George Washington creating the law that if you serve on the supreme court you serve until you die. The first Supreme Court meeting was on February 2, 1790 but they didn’t hear any judicial cases for its first term. The first decision was made on August 3, 1791 with the West v. Barnes case which was a financial dispute between a farmer and a family he owed. Now you may be wondering who picks the Justices, well they are nominated by the President of the United States. The Supreme Court is ranked by power. The highest officer is the Chief Justice who has the most responsibility where they engage in very important trials such as impeachment against the President of the United States. One of the interesting cases is 1962’s Engel vs. Vitale where it was ruled that public schools could not lead prayer. The Supreme Court handles a lot of cases each year but only picks a select few each year. Without the Supreme Court our country would not be as advanced as we are now.

 The Pandemic That Brought Change

You hear us but you may not like it. The pandemic of 2020 has molded and shaped the year around the Black Lives Matter movement and focused the injustices against Black Lives to the mainstream media. People can no longer ignore the brutal murders and unequal treatment by the police. The protest from Minneapolis, Charlotte, Chicago and St. Louis along with many other cities have caught the attention of people world-wide. With many Americans out of work and having more time on their hands the protests have been larger than they ever were before. The George Floyd protests is the biggest protest in U.S. history having 15 million to 26 million Americans march for what is basic human rights. Activist have placed a responsibility on the American people for holding the police and government accountable. Change is walking through downtown Charlotte and seeing a mural of Black Lives Matter on the street, change is seeing Large Corporations stand behind what could easily be called a modern day Civil Rights Movement. In a survey taken by Maneesh Arora 65 percent of the people she surveyed admitted to having more free time since the pandemic started, 77 percent have been financially burdened by the pandemic and 81 percent have attended protests. This shows that even through the toughest time modern day America has seen, people still give their time and efforts to the most powerful and meaningful movement of todays time. Every day Black people are still fighting for what is rightfully theirs and although not everything is perfect this movement is building a foundation for well needed change.

news article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/05/how-coronavirus-pandemic-helped-floyd-protests-become-biggest-us-history/

Civil War & Reconstruction

WHAT IS EQUALITY?

On August 30, 2020 Jacob Blake was wrongfully shot seven times in the back by officer Rusten Sheskey. The shooting occurred in Kenosha,WI and was caught on video by a neighbor who quickly posted it on facebook. Unfortunately, in the past black men and women being murdered by the police wrongfully on camera became acceptable to the American people and the Judicial government. In recent events such as the murder of George Floyd, the brave and persistent protestors from all over the world stood for justice and protested with the Black Community showing not only the American people but the entire world that these atrocious incidents will no longer be accepted nor tolerated. Jacob Blake who is paralyzed from the waist down has spoken out on the injustice act that has changed his life forever. He broke his silence by stating, "Every 24 hours, it’s pain — it’s nothing but pain,". This is not only how Jacob Blake feels physically but this is how Black people all over the country feel. Every day checking the news and seeing another black man killed by the ones who are supposed to serve and protect should never sit right with anyone who calls themselves a human being. As protests around the country continue, our voices are still being heard. When we chant "NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE" that is exactly what we mean.

news article: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/us/jacob-blake-video-statement.html