The First Amendment

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The issue of free speech has become a predominant issue in the news as of late. The first amendment gives us our right to free speech. However, it seems that current day media seeks to define the limitations of our free speech. The Mike Ditka vs. Colin Kaepernick case is a good example of the arguments that surround our first amendment. What is the Mike Ditka vs. Colin Kapernick case about? Well, recently Colin Kaepernick; the quarterback for the San Francisco’s 49ers, has decided that he will no longer stand for the national anthem. This decision has sparked a wave of backlash towards Colin. Colin has explained his reasoning as to not stand as a protest against a country that oppresses people of color. In response, Mike Ditka stated that …show more content…
The reasons for the protests vary, however many of these protests have been stopped by law enforcement; a clear violation of our freedom of speech. As long as citizens’ right to protest is nonviolent, I believe that police and other officials should respect their right to public expression. It is sad to state that many government officials do not respect our right to free speech. And it is even more frustrating to not have any way of defending ourselves against them when our rights are violated. In contrast, I feel that government official should be present when such protests arise in case things get out of hand. So then why has it been such uproar for Colin to not stand for the national anthem? Well, the national anthem represents the United States independence. And over the years has become a sort of icon for our nationalism. Many people feel offended when someone decides not to respect a tradition we have labeled as respectable. It is a fearful thing to see a country that was once great, forgetting its roots. In truth, the tune of our great American national anthem was formerly the British drinking song “To Anacreon in Heaven.”1 And receiving it as our national anthem came with much