Eight Values of Free Expression

1.) Discovery of Truth

2.) Participation in Self-Government

3.) stable change

4.) Individual Self-Fulfillment

5.) Check on Governmental Power

6.) Promote Tolerance

7.) Promote Innovation

8.) Protect Dissent

The Eight Values of Free Expression are important to society in promoting political change and expression of individuality. I personally resonate with most of these values as I take pride in carrying these specific values with me day to day. The value that resonates with me the most is promoting innovation as I enjoy being creative and coming up with new ideas that I can apply to society. Having a unique and artistic personality, I can use my creativity as an advantage in innovating new ideas and being able to fulfill myself and others. 

Another value that I find is very important to me in incorporating into my life is the value of participation in self-government. As I've become older, learning and understanding the ins and outs of government and politics has been very important for me. Having this level of knowledge assures me that I am making the right choices in elections and be able to articulate why I feel a certain individual is right for the position. The year 2020 has been a big year in promoting the importance of voting and being proactive in elections and debates, especially for younger generations. It's important for the younger generations to be involved in order to make a change!

Antiwar Sentiments Masked from the Media

In all my years of being a student, I never gave much thought to antiwar voices and their impact on the media. Often times whenever I hear news about current things happening in the war and drafting, I think of it as a way of promoting individuals to serve. Rarely have I ever seen or heard anything in the mainstream media about antiwar acts. I believe that media is a platform that strategically chooses which news and events to broadcast to the public. America depends on the help of the media to help encourage individuals to serve in the war. With this being said, antiwar sentiments would be highly counterintuitive to the United States' overall objectives. 

The United States is known for its patriotic spirit and the people's gratitude towards those who lost their lives serving our country. We take pride in the efforts towards defending our country and making America the best it can be. It is important for news sources to broadcast this kind of news to help push for help in war as there is always strength in numbers. On the contrary, it is crucial to have an understanding that there are always important things for us to know about the war that aren't broadcasted on mainstream media. The media picks and chooses topics that are seemingly the most beneficial for the public. It is important that as a society we understand the ins and outs of the war and how it can either shed a negative and positive light on our country. 

The Six Freedoms and the Black Lives Matter Movement

  

    Recent changes to the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020 have drastically conflicted with the six freedoms and first amendment rights. On May 25th, 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year old black male was brutally beaten and killed by two white male police officers. It is evident that these actions by federal authorities are proven unlawful given that there was the negligence of peaceable assembly. Ashley M Eick, writing as a J.D. candidate at the William and Mary Law School, has argued that "such a militarized police response poses a chilling effect on the right of peaceable assembly, which American Founders guaranteed in the First Amendment". Recognizing the importance of public safety, Eick argued that the state should have to prove the existence of "clear and present danger" of violence before employing militarized forces. 

    These violent and repetitive actions continue to sadden our communities and challenge equality and the rights of the people. Freedom of Speech has also been challenged during the Black Lives Matter Movement as "a number of judges have barred attorneys and others from wearing Black Lives Matter pins or clothing in courtrooms, bring up first amendment concerns" (The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Deborah Fisher). The First Amendment does not condone restricting this kind of speech, although there are limitations on speech, it is unlawful to take away this right from the people. The First Amendment also doesn't condone violence from federal authority unless there is clear and present danger, in which most of these cases had no evidence of. These actions should no longer continue and it is up to us to change this narrative and fight for justice and equality. 

https://www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1512/black-lives-matter 

The History and Workings of The Supreme Court

The Workings of SCOTUS

     The United States Supreme Court is one of the most fundamental aspects of law in the United States. The Supreme Court is head of the judicial branch of the government and was established by the U.S. Constitution. Currently, the court is made up of nine justices in which they analyze the constitutionality of laws and have ultimate jurisdiction over all laws in the United States. The Supreme Court also has power over the actions of the executive branch of the government as well as the legislative branch of Congress. 

The History of SCOTUS

    The U.S. Supreme Court was established in 1789 and was apart of Article Three of the Constitution. The legislative branch of the court first exercised its power with the Judiciary Act of 1789. President George Washington signed the act in specifying that there will be six justices that will serve the court. The Court's first-ever meeting was on February 2, 1790, and was primarily concentrated on working out organizational procedures of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court's justices are nominated by the President of the United States and are either confirmed or denied by the U.S. Senate. The chief justice officer is one of the highest judicial officers in the nation. The chief justice is responsible for planning an agenda in accordance with the court's weekly meetings. The chief justice is also responsible for trials of impeachment against the President of the United States in the U.S. Senate. Popular cases in Supreme Court history include Plessy v Furguson, Engel v Vitale, and Gideon v Wainwright.

Post 1: My News Sources

The Business of Fashion

The Business of Fashion is a news source in which readers can stay alert to new trends in the fashion industry. The Business of Fashion posts topics ranging from Haute Couture trends in luxury fashion, trends in social media, and educational topics on how to land a career in the fashion world. It is the ultimate news source for individuals who have an interest in art, design, and fashion and are looking to expand their knowledge or creativity based on what's happening in fashion currently.

https://www.businessoffashion.com/




CNN News

CNN News is one of my main sources to get news. CNN News gives ranges of topics of what's happening in society like politics, entertainment, health and coronavirus updates, and sports. I mainly go to CNN News when I'm looking to get updates on things happening in politics. Understanding current political topics are important for me as an American citizen.

https://www.cnn.com/





WGSN News

WGSN News is primarily a trend forecasting news site. Similar to The Business of Fashion, WGSN focuses on a range of topics in the fashion industry. However, WGSN gathers information on current economic and societal trends and translates them into fashion and design. Some examples of recent posts include political fashion, wearing bold political statements on apparel. There are also a lot of topics on environmentally friendly fashion and recyclable materials.

https://www.wgsn.com/fashion/




Today News

Today News is the ultimate source for finding topics on all things lifestyle-related. Certain topics range from food, health and wellness, sports, and entertainment. I like to watch the Today Show in the morning to see the latest products, cooking recipes, and life skills tips. Today News is a great resource for new parents and individuals who live on their own.

https://www.today.com/news




Refinery29 News

Refinery29 News is primarily a news source that broadcasts topics on media, entertainment, and celebrities. I get a lot of my news from Refinery29 when I'm looking to get updates on what's happening with celebrities or what the hottest shows and movies are at the moment. Refinery29 also focuses on recent political topics like Black Lives Matter protests and fun topics like horoscopes and beauty tips.

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/news