BY ANONYMOUS
English 9/Mr. Davis
Los Alamos High School
Editor’s note: Each year, the Los Alamos Reporter publishes a series of op-eds written by students in Adam Davis’s 9th grade English class to highlight the students’ writing. This is one of those op-eds.
Freedom of speech is one of the most important rights that was ever written in The US Constitution. Even though polls suggest that it feels like we’re losing it in today’s society, and people are afraid to speak their mind. People are being silenced for their opinions that others don’t agree with, whether it’s by the government, social media, or even social pressure. Due to this, It has become difficult to have open conversations and share different opinions. I strongly believe that our first amendment right is important, and I do not like that society and the government is trying to take away our freedom of speech.
There has been a lot of controversy regarding our First Amendment right in which schools have attempted to punish students for their beliefs and opinions. Some schools have been successful in these cases, but most of them have failed to punish students. One of these cases regarded a student who wore a t-shirt that said “There are only 2 genders.” This student was not hunting anyone and was “just minding his own business”, even though some students said they felt “targeted and unsafe” because of him. He never threatened anyone and was just expressing his opinion without being rude or pushing on anyone to follow in what he believes in (Middleborough School District, 2021).
Liam Morrison was unsuccessful in suing the town for violating his First Amendment right, he repeatedly got in trouble and was asked to take it off. When he did not he got sent home and came back with the word “two” covered in duct tape, but still got in trouble. Even when he tried to find a middle ground on the matter he was still punished, this was not right and proof that most of the time we have to follow society’s rules.
In our society, we should be able to express ourselves freely without consequences. There are clubs with people who identify as“they/them” and other pronouns who don’t get in trouble for expressing themselves in a way that they chose. This kid decided to express himself in a way that was not hurting anyone and yet he got in trouble. I believe that punishing someone for expressing themselves through something they wear is just not right, especially since our First Amendment right allows us to express ourselves freely without punishment. It is the very first Amendment in the Constitution and the most important. I’m not saying that those people who say they are a “they” should be punished, everyone has their own opinion and should not be punished for expressing it. Our First Amendment right allows us to express ourselves freely in our society without getting hated on by other people. People may disagree with others but we all have our own opinion and we have to respect that.
With freedom of speech people are allowed to refute what they believe is hateful and let the one who said it know that they think it’s hateful. Some people say that those with hateful opinions should be disciplined due to them hurting others, and not having a good view on the topic. As our First amendment states that everyone has the right to speak their mind without fear of punishment from others.
Our freedom of speech has come under attack with many not being able to express their opinions and beliefs. Many times people do not feel comfortable sharing their opinions fearing retaliation, and consequences that they might receive. Laim voiced his opinion and got told many times to take the “offensive” shirt off but was not doing anything wrong, with this he got suspended, took it to the supreme court and lost. With more cases regarding students and adults being silenced for what they believe in, I must ask if this keeps up, who will be brave enough to speak up?
Works Cited
“America has a Free Speech Problem.” 2022. New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/18/opinion/cancel-culture-free-speech-poll.html. Accessed 6 12 2024.
Bulter, Christopher. Middleboro student appeals free speech T-shirt case to U.S Supreme Court. What to know. 2024.