2/6/08 reading!

The reading for tonight's class: Introduction to the Free Speech Clause and The First Amendment in the Colonial Newspaper Press I realized how much I did not know about the First Amendment.  I feel that many people my age know about the Constitution and The Bill of Rights, but have not looked in to the history of them.  As stated in the article, "Introduction of the Free Speech Clause" and from our discussion last week on the historical origin of free speech we learned that free speech was an act that started far before the 20th, 19th, and even 18th centuries.  Examples like "the trial of printer John Peter Zenger in 1735 was a landmark development of common law protection for free speech" (Introduction to the Free Speech Clause).  Taking a look into the freedoms that we have can be a great way to not take advantage as most do now.  Off the topic of free speech, I read James' blog for last weeks post and he brought up a great point that many of our peers do not vote, and are not even registered.  In order to be aware of the freedoms we have and use them to their full potential it is vital that we do the research in order to obtain a greater knowledge of our rights as Americans.

tryin not to preach :)