Civil Liberties Essay - 1315 Words

From the beginning, the United States Constitution has guaranteed the American people civil liberties. These liberties have given citizens rights to speak, believe, and act freely. The Constitution grants citizens the courage to express their mind about something they believe is immoral or unjust. The question is, how far are citizens willing to extend the meanings of these liberties? Some people believe that American citizens take advantage of their civil liberties, harming those around them. On the contrary, many other people feel that civil liberties are necessary tools to fight for their Constitutional rights. Critics believe that American citizens take advantage of civil liberties supporting limits on freedom of speech. They†¦show more content†¦People can take the negative speech spoken about them and use it as a stimulus for success, proving their harmful peers wrong. Without criticism, self reflection would no longer remain. Glen Greenwald points out that empo wering the State to proscribe and punish speech is not only the most dangerous step a society can take-though it is that-its also the most senseless. It never achieves its intended effect of suppressing or eliminating a particular view (qtd. in Gallagher 59). In other words, Greenwald is saying that regulating freedom of speech would, in fact, harm the American society. Consequently, freedom of speech should not be regulated due to the fact it suppresses ones inspiration. Also, opponents argue the idea that technology is threatening the privacy of American citizens. David H. Holtzman, a security and technology expert, argues that our privacy is shrinking quicker than the polar ice cap; technology is eroding it faster than the legal system can protect it. This trend cannot be reversed in any obvious way. Privacy, as we know it today, is lost (172). Without a doubt, American technology has improved over the years. Social networks, such as Facebook, require pictures and persona l information that is seen by a large amount of people. As technology advances, the American peoplesShow MoreRelatedCivil Liberties And Civil Rights1149 Words   |  5 Pages2017 What Role Does Our Civil Liberty and Rights Play In Our Government System? Have you ever put some thought into how our Civil Liberties and Civil Rights work in our system or even attempt to figure out what they are? Our government system comprises Civil Liberties and Rights that are similar in ways and different in others, but one of them can have the most influence on your life. 1 Civil Liberties and Civil Rights are rights that we have as Americans. 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