Civil Liberties

Civil Liberties are rights and freedoms given to each citizen in the U.S. constitution found in the first amendment. 


Essential Questions to Answer about civil liberties:

• How important is the first amendment?. The civil liberties are listed as followed: freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of press, freedom of petition, and freedom of religion. Freedom of speech means that we the people have the right to speak freely about the government without the fear of being punished in any way. Freedom of assembly means that we the people have the right to come together in public to express their views peacefully and non violently without interference. Freedom of press means that the people have the right to publish any opinions freely. Freedom of religion means that the people have the right to practice any religion they want to without the government's consent. Lastly, freedom of petition means that the people have the right to disagree with government. The first amendment is very important because it lists the civil liberties that we as humans possess. Also back in the era of King and Queens, we did not have these liberties and if you were to talk disagree or were insubordinate to what the king or queen said there were consequences. Punishments were imprisonment and most times death. Therefore, without the first amendment we as a nation would be a monarchy.

• What is speech? Speech can be defined as many things from the words that come out of someones mouth to obscenity.

• Who is a person? any corporation and other associations, like individuals, that contributes discussion or debate.

• Is there separation between church and state? Yes, there is because the state can not interfere or make any law prohibiting to exercise of religion with the church and vise virsa found in the first amendment and Article VI .

• What is due-process? Due process is the principle that that government most respect all rights according to the constitution.

In the news lately, the slogan "Don't touch my junk" is beginning to be known world-wide. The slogan is referring to the way Transportation Security Administration or (TSA) is holding the scope and grope process. Many Americans are complaining that TSA are being too physical and invading their privacy. For example, Passenger Erin Chase likened her ordeal to sexual assault by a TSA screener who, "went all the way up my legs, up my inner thighs, all along my inner thighs until she reached my genital area, touched both sides." Even the scanners are being a problem because they are said to reveal too much. Obama asks TSA to constantly evaluate its methods in order to keep all passengers safe. He also believes that the pat down and scanners are very necessary because last Christmas there was an "underwear bomber" and Nigerian terror Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab.

I think we as a people are very ungrateful because the scope and grope process is only trying to keep us safe from bombers like Umar. Instead of thanking the TSA for doing their jobs, we complain about that's crazy??? 

Some questions for thought are:

Is the scope and grope process really invading privacy or is it keep us safe?

If a person confesses to a crime, is there any reason why the
confession should not be used in court? 

Links: http://www.cnn.com/POLITICS/
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/

DON'T ASK DON'T TELL

The policy known as "don't ask, don't tell'' was made law in 1993 creates a big issue over the role of gays in the military. It limits the military's ability to ask service members about their sexuality and allows homosexuals to serve in the armed force but they must keep quiet about it and they can not show affection to any other service member.

Don't ask don't tell was adopted as a compromise after President Clinton failed to overturn an existing ban on gay service members, which was opposed by officers in the military. President Bush supported the "don't ask, don't tell" rules during both terms of his administration. Since 1993, some 12,500 gay men and lesbians have been released from duty after their sexuality became known. 

A federal court case starting Tuesday in California will consider whether the policy banning gays and lesbians from openly serving in uniform is constitutional.

A six-year legal fight by the Log Cabin Republican culminates today in Riverside, California, where the group's lawyers will argue that the the gay ban violates due process and free speech protections. The group has about 19,000 members and supports freedom, fairness and equality for gay and lesbian Americans.

In my opinion, I don't agree with the gay and lesbian lifestyle but I still believe they should be allow to join the military. The military needs all the help they can get!

What do you think? Should gays and lesbians be allowed to join the military? Comment Plz :)

Links:http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pentagon-release-review/story?id=12270535

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/11/dont_ask_dont_tell_report_set.html?hpid=topnews

Battle On The Hill

Will Obama Prevail ?

There's been a lot of hoopla over these past elections. Obama is dealing with a lot of criticism over his decision making as President. As a result of the recent election, the sixty plus incoming Republicans in the House of Representatives is quite conservative; and in fact, their political ideology is the exact opposite of our liberal democratic President Obama.  In the article, Bill Burton, White House spokesman, politically socializes his views upon the readers of the article as he expresses that the American people do not want to re-litigate what the government has done for the past two years, they want Washington to move the economy forward by creating jobs.  Due to everything that has been accomplished, some Americans in both parties are experiencing some political cleavage because some are starting to second guess why they put him in office.  Moderate Independent Women’s Forum President Michelle Bernard added this caution: “Politicians of both parties should be very clear that the public does not hold either party in high regard. The true takeaway of this election is that the American electorate is not going to stand for bad policy anymore from Washington, regardless of who is governing.” Political Elite Mitch McConnell has a slightly different view.  He states that “The fact is, if our primary legislative goals are to repeal and replace the health spending bill, to end the bailouts and cut spending and shrink the size and scope of government, the only way to do all these things is to put someone in the White House who won’t veto any of these things.”



??Obama Thinking??

 I believe the economy is the dividing line where Americans lie in determining if he stays President or if someone different will create the change that was promised.  If Obama wants to have another term in office he needs to give the Americans the change that they voted for.  The article also shed some light on the public opinion of tte citizens of the country.  For example a 46-year-old white mother states that she is sick and tired of the bad behavior in Washington hurting families like hers.  From what I gather, the American people's eyes are beginning to open towards politics because the actions inns of Washingto impacting ours lives.