by Bethany de Gant, Stratford High School
Honorable Mention in the 2007 Center for First Amendment Rights
2007 High School First Amendment Contest

Every Sunday, my sister goes to Hebrew School.

She can go there.

My father is at a Democratic Party Meeting.

They can have this meeting.

My friend's brother is on strike.

He can do this.

A journalist reveals our governor's plot to steal our taxes.

He can write about this.

Our President is not doing his job.

I can say this.

I can say what I am feeling. I can be my own person. I can. I can say what I want to say. I can do what I want to do. I can. Can I really do all of these things? Yes! I tell myself yes, but is it true? It must not be. To be able to live my life without worrying about the government putting down my religion, my beliefs, me... no, it seems too good to be true. How could anyone, even our country's founders, have been brilliant enough to come up with something that can do all this? Did they really accomplish all of these things? As I walk through school each day, I am surrounded by people, all sorts of people with all sorts of ideas and beliefs. A boy is wearing a gold cross necklace. A girl proudly wears the dress of her native culture. I hear my peers voicing their political opinions, thanks to an insightful Foreign Policy class. They are not punished for their beliefs, just as I am not punished for mine, nor you for yours. The First Amendment gives us all our own voices. We can be heard from the depths of society. We can reach out and be with others who share our beliefs. We can reach out and be with others who do not share our beliefs. When we do not agree with something that is said or done, we have the opportunity to make our point heard. Don't you see how remarkable this amendment is? We take this right for granted but without it, we would all be confined to living a life someone else has forced upon us. Without rights, we are pathetic. Our rights are the mortar, the seams that hold our country together. Our nation is based on this idea of freedom. I believe our founders did accomplish what they set out to do with the First Amendment. The congress cannot command our religion, our speech, our right to assemble, nor our right to petition. Now, it is up to you and me to make this nation which we lovingly call the "Land of the Free" a truly free nation. We must not abuse our first Amendment by twisting its words and using it intentionally to hurt others. We must treat everyone with the respect they deserve. Not only must we respect them as people, we must respect their ideas as well. Can we do this? Yes... Yes! We can! We must!

We must, in the honor of our cherished First Amendment.

We must, in the honor of our beloved nation which strives to obey the First Amendment. We must, in the honor of our fellow Americans.

We must, in the honor of our very lives.

We can.

Will we?