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Why Do So Many Americans Have No Clue What Their Right To Free Speech Really Means?
So many people don’t understand their First Amendment right and what they can and can’t do
The Constitution of the United States is one of the most treasured historical documents in the world. Its protections and rights granted to American citizens are viewed as a gem of human innovation, and held up as a shining example of what societies should strive to achieve. One of the most powerful amendments of the document is the very first — detailing freedom of speech. Although so many like to cite this right, it’s a perplexing irony that so many Americans have a very inaccurate understanding of what it means and allows them as citizens
Adopted on December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights is composed of the first ten Constitutional amendments. The First Amendment specifically reads:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Over the years, understanding of what free speech means to an increasing number of Americans has come to be equated as an ability…