Are Our Rights Protected?

The Bill of Rights guarantees Americans certain liberties, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Every American acknowledges that these rights are fundamental in our country. They have been protected under the Constitution from the beginning of our nation. However, these rights are not always safe. So I thought I would check in on how two of these liberties are protected today.

Photo Cred: New York Times

Freedom of speech is one of the most important rights granted to Americans. It means that no one can be punished for speaking out against something or protesting, as long as it does not inflict harm on others. In the past the government has repeatedly violated the people's freedom of speech, especially during wartime. These violations of civil liberties include the Alien and Sedition Acts and the Espionage Act of 1917. But is freedom of speech still at risk today? The answer is yes. This week, the Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in the case of Snyder v Phelps. The Westboro Baptist Church is infamous for their message that the war in Iraq and natural disasters are the result of America's tolerance of homosexuals. When the Church protested Matthew Snyder's son's funeral, Snyder sued Westboro for invasion of privacy and emotional distress. A jury awarded Snyder five million dollars in damages, but the decision was later overturned. The issue of the case is whether or not the Westboro Baptist Church's right to freedom of speech protects them from lawsuits like Snyder's. This week, the Supreme Court decided 8-1 that the Church is in fact protected under the First Amendment. The decision has led to a wide range of reactions, from those who agree that free speech should be protected to those who want to prevent the Church from spewing hateful messages. Personally, I agree with the Court's decision. I find the Church's messages to be despicable, but they aren't physically harming anyone and their protests are peaceful. Therefore, we must allow them to share their beliefs. If we don't, where do we draw the line?

Photo Cred: NPR

Another civil liberty at risk in America today is freedom of religion. In my AP United States Government class we've had a lot of discussions about whether or not prejudice still exists in modern America. One of the groups still experiencing widespread prejudice are Muslims. This week I heard a story from NPR about "Guantanamo North," two special prisons in the United States that house threats to the nation. The problem with these units, however, is that they house a disproportionate number of Muslims. Some prisoners, such as Avon Twitty, were not convicted of terrorism, but were sent to the units simply because of their Islamic faith. These units are known for their secrecy and their restrictions on civil liberties, and prisoners are unable to appeal their case in order to move from the units. The most concerning violation of rights, however, is the fact that Muslim prisoners are not permitted to pray together. In a country where we pride ourselves on our freedom, how can we allow people's liberties to be taken away simply because of their religion? For a further look at these special units, check out this timeline.

The lesson to be learned from these two stories is that civil liberties are never safe. Though America has made great strides in order to promote more tolerance among its citizens, there will always be an ongoing debate about the extent to which civil liberties should be protected.