In our Untied States of America, we have prioritized Tribalism over Individual Liberty.
The constitution places the Individual before the Tribe in the 14th Amendment. The rights of U.S. citizens begins when the person is ‘born’ or ‘naturalized’ in the United States. The Unborn are not protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Fourteenth Amendment
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-14/
Section 1
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Constitution.Congress.gov
Our 5 Freedoms granted in the U.S. Constitution
Our 5 Freedoms are explicitly stated in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. www.uscourts.gov lists settled cases and clearly states the Freedom of speech includes the right
First Amendment
https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/
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.
Freedom of Religion
Here’s the Gist, in the effort to highlight individual Freedom and to keep the government neutral toward religion, Congress cannot:
- Create laws requiring citizens to follow a specific religion or prevent citizens from exercising their chosen religion, even if that is NO religion at all.
- Requiring Citizens to subscribe to a certain religion in order to hold office.
Freedom of speech includes the right:
- Not to speak (specifically, the right not to salute the flag).
West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943). - Of students to wear black armbands to school to protest a war (“Students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.”).
Tinker v. Des Moines, 393 U.S. 503 (1969). - To use certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages.
Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971). - To contribute money (under certain circumstances) to political campaigns.
Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976). - To advertise commercial products and professional services (with some restrictions).
Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Consumer Council, 425 U.S. 748 (1976); Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977). - To engage in symbolic speech, (e.g., burning the flag in protest).
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989); United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990).
Freedom of speech does not include the right:
- To incite imminent lawless action.
Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969). - To make or distribute obscene materials.
Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957). - To burn draft cards as an anti-war protest.
United States v. O’Brien, 391 U.S. 367 (1968). - To permit students to print articles in a school newspaper over the objections of the school administration.
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988). - Of students to make an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event.
Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986). - Of students to advocate illegal drug use at a school-sponsored event.
Morse v. Frederick, __ U.S. __ (2007).
You’re encouraged to read about your Fundamental freedoms in the First
Amendment on Congress.gov
Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Press, and Freedom to petition the government will be covered in future posts.
Untied States of America 