First Amendment Essays (560 words) - James Madison,

First Amendment 1st amendment rights Under the Bill of Rights of our constitution, Americans are given basic human rights which cannot be taken away. Sometimes these rights conflict with each other, causing debate. The 1st amendment causes many controversial issues to arise. This amendment gives us the freedoms of speech, press, and religion. Freedom of speech is one of those very controversial issues. I feel pretty strongly about our right to freedom of speech. In other countries you could be killed for saying negative things about your government. Here in America, you can call the president a fat idiot who should be shot, and not face any penalty. I do believe that people should restrict themselves to saying appropriate things at appropriate times. For example not yelling"fire" in a crowded area where many innocent people would get trampled. A very controversial issue of freedom of speech is the issue of art. Art is a form of freedom of speech. And as some British artists have recently showed us, some people have some very twisted things they want to say through their artwork. Although I do not agree with the way some artists choose to express themselves (such as Sensation), I do think that they have the right to do so. People do not have to view the work if they do not want to. Freedom of the press also arouses much debate. This is one topic I tend to sometimes question. Although I feel it is very important for the public to know what is going on in our country, sometimes I feel it is better not to know. For example when the press wanted to print the Pentagon Papers it was a threat to our national security. I think also, the press influences people or gives them ideas. When tragedies such as the one in Littleton, Colorado occur, it is not necessary to show live coverage of frantic people running for their lives. I don't think it was right to put that tragedy on national television. The attention the press gave to that situation also put many other people in danger. Practically every school in the nation had a bomb threat after that, and some of them checked out to be serious. The publicity that the tragedy got, gave other kids ideas and thoughts of how to repay those they had a grudge against. The third freedom given to us by the 1st amendment is the freedom of religion. This is a freedom I am personally very grateful for. The first provision of this freedom gives me the right to any religion I choose to follow. I think every American is grateful for this freedom, no matter what religion they are. As a Christian, I have the right to worship God without being persecuted for doing so. The second provision states that there must be a division between church and state. I think this is also very important. When there is a theocracy, things tend to get very corrupt. You get priests imposing mandatory tithes (such as in the Middle Ages), and making statements that if you don't follow the law of the land; you also won't be going to heaven. Although I feel this way I think it would be nice if prayer was allowed in the schools. But I do understand that this would violate the separation of church and state. All of these freedoms have been granted to us by the 1st amendment of the Bill of Rights. Without these freedoms, I think our country would be a horribly corrupt society.

Free Essays on Antigone Review

The video of Antigone is as sad as the story of her father, Oedipus the former king of Thebes. It started off with her brother, Polyneices trying to invade the city-state of Thebes with his Argive army. Long ago Polyneices left Thebes to be with his father, Oedipus who was thrown out of Thebes because of an edict. But now he his back to reclaim his throne, which is presently occupied by his brother Eteocles. The two brothers and their armies engage in battle and killed each other. With the last of the male in the royal family dead, Creon their uncle is next in line to become king. As his first act as king of Thebes, he issues an edict. The edict forbids anybody to bury the body of Polyneices, which is lying in the earth being eaten by birds and dogs. As the citizen of Thebes knew this edict a sentry reports that the edict has already been violated. With his fierceness Creon told the sentry that either he expose the criminal or he is to be kill. The very next day, the sentry returns to Creon with the Princess Antigone. A baffle Creon demands to know why was the Princess Antigone brought before him. The sentry told Creon that she was the one that disobey the edict. The sentry explains that he saw Antigone last night crying, poring wine, and trying to rebury the body of Polyneices. Creon then asks Antigone if the charges that the sentry accused her of are true and she admits to it all. Creon also demands that Ismene be charge with the same crime as Antigone, because she knew about her sister's acts and did not report it to Creon. But Antigone refused that Ismene have the equal honor. Creon on the other hand believe that Ismene should have that honor and sentence both of them to death and remove them from the palace. Haimon, Creon's son, seek to change his father's mind base on reason. Because Antigone was going to be Haimon's wife. But his father tells Haimon that he is too young to make these decisions. Haimon tell his father that i... Free Essays on Antigone Review Free Essays on Antigone Review The video of Antigone is as sad as the story of her father, Oedipus the former king of Thebes. It started off with her brother, Polyneices trying to invade the city-state of Thebes with his Argive army. Long ago Polyneices left Thebes to be with his father, Oedipus who was thrown out of Thebes because of an edict. But now he his back to reclaim his throne, which is presently occupied by his brother Eteocles. The two brothers and their armies engage in battle and killed each other. With the last of the male in the royal family dead, Creon their uncle is next in line to become king. As his first act as king of Thebes, he issues an edict. The edict forbids anybody to bury the body of Polyneices, which is lying in the earth being eaten by birds and dogs. As the citizen of Thebes knew this edict a sentry reports that the edict has already been violated. With his fierceness Creon told the sentry that either he expose the criminal or he is to be kill. The very next day, the sentry returns to Creon with the Princess Antigone. A baffle Creon demands to know why was the Princess Antigone brought before him. The sentry told Creon that she was the one that disobey the edict. The sentry explains that he saw Antigone last night crying, poring wine, and trying to rebury the body of Polyneices. Creon then asks Antigone if the charges that the sentry accused her of are true and she admits to it all. Creon also demands that Ismene be charge with the same crime as Antigone, because she knew about her sister's acts and did not report it to Creon. But Antigone refused that Ismene have the equal honor. Creon on the other hand believe that Ismene should have that honor and sentence both of them to death and remove them from the palace. Haimon, Creon's son, seek to change his father's mind base on reason. Because Antigone was going to be Haimon's wife. But his father tells Haimon that he is too young to make these decisions. Haimon tell his father that i...

Obesity Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Obesity in the United States - Research Paper Example In the United States, obesity cuts across gender, race and socioeconomic status. Currently, the greatest prevalence of obesity is among Hispanic people, African-Americans, and Native Americans. While 13% of white youth are overweight, 20% of non-Hispanic adolescents who are African American are overweight. Further, research reveals that 24% of African American youth are overweight, with the same percentage of Mexican American youth sharing the same status. Approximately 39% of all Native American youth face the risk of becoming overweight (Wieting, 546). With regard to gender, 29% of African American females and 22% of African American children are obese while an excess of 27% of Mexican American male children and adolescents suffer from obesity. Societal factors also contribute to obesity, especially in children. Many neighborhoods in the urban areas lack healthy alternatives, outdoor produce stands, and supermarkets as alternatives to fast food outlets and convenience stores. This makes it more difficult for people to buy and consume inexpensive and fresh produce. Furthermore, an insufficient public transport system has increased dependence on cars, therefore reducing healthy activities such as taking walks and biking. A report by the CDC shows that overall participation in physical activities has reduced by 30% over the last ten years. Limited physical activity contributes to circulatory problems as well as obesity in children. A reduction in physical activity has further been reduced by pressure from both federal and state authorities to improve state proficiency tests performance. This pressure forces schools to try meeting these increased expectations by cutting down the time for recess.