[youOme]

We made an official free speech zone at my school today. We had our first open mic, it was pretty good. Everybody listened so well, and those who decided to speak were awesome. A lot of the discussion was on how religion was portrayed in our pop culture class. We even had one of our peers sing for us. I really liked it, hopefully next week I'll get enough courage to get up and say something.

[TaintedGoth1]

That's so cool!

[Timgt5]

Its wonderful that you have a free speech zone but you may want to read the following:

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.

The above is the first amendment to our constitution of the United States of America

According to this THE ENTIRE U.S. IS A FREE SPEECH ZONE

This supersedes all other authority, by specifically designating a "Free Speech" zone your school is saying you do not have this right elsewhere on campass, this is not acceptable. If your school does have restricted speech, fosters a cultural of political correctness, or has actual speech codes, it violates your constitutional rights.

If your school has such policies they are breaking the law and need to be sued to have them revoked.

The first amendment is absolute, do not let your school or any other organization trample on your God given rights.

Universities were meant to be a place of free flowing intellectual exchange, not boot camps for intellectual facism

[youOme]

We're all aware of our constitutional right, but the zone was created to encourage them to speak. In all institutions people fear speaking out because of possible consequence. Open mic is a chance for one person to speak in front of many, with no consequence, no judgement, no reply...just listening. The entire campus is a safe haven and the students are actually encouraged to speak freely, especially through writing assignments and other outside assignments.

If there were other opportunities were people were encouraged to stand up and say what they want freely with an entire room of peers just listening, then this alone would encourage us to use our constitutional rights. People tend to forget that we are freely able to say and express anyway we please, people get sucked into those life long rituals of conformity, the free speech zone is supposed to be beyond conformity but for individual freedom.

I think the idea is the best the school had yet. We're able to go up there and speak of the institution, instructors, assignments, and rules to not an authoritative person but to the school as a whole.

I would never sue this institution for practicing their constitutional right as well.

[heyjoe]

if you talk negatively about instructors i wouldnt be too sure there would be no consequences for that person in the future. Teachers/'instructors/professors are a clannish bunch and tend to circles the wagons.

[youOme]

True, but for the most part since we are adults we're not going to go up their and be like "so and so is a jackass and I hate his class". If that did happen, I don't think the instructor would be sanctioned in anyway, because poor stupids tend to get mad about their poor grades, with is sort of a denial thing. Last open mic nobody even mentioned Concord or the instructors, just about how a particular class portrayed religion with the fanatical you tube videos.


In note with what I said earlier, although we are constitutionally free to speak and express as we please there still remains to be a moral restriction. It's not necessarily stated in the law but is universally known amongst rational people. Kind of like yielding at a door way for a mother and child, that sort of thing.

Despite our best efforts to encourage complete freedom their still draws a line. It's not as though I can run the halls or even in the small area of the "zone" and scream, I have a bong!

I wonder if complete freedom even exists? Meaning, anywhere on this earth, or even beyond? Is there always a line to be drawn? I think the only place a person can truly be 100% free is with in the conscious.

[gimmeice]

The free speech zone sounds really neat, I bet it's a lot of fun.

[Kiya]

yeah! cool!

[SeptemberMorn]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Timgt5 said:
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.

The above is the first amendment to our constitution of the United States of America

According to this THE ENTIRE U.S. IS A FREE SPEECH ZONE

This supersedes all other authority, by specifically designating a "Free Speech" zone your school is saying you do not have this right elsewhere on campass, this is not acceptable. If your school does have restricted speech, fosters a cultural of political correctness, or has actual speech codes, it violates your constitutional rights.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

If only that were true! There's censorship EVERYWHERE!

[I_WMD]

I kinda not want to say this ...


But ya know how peeps have all sorts of phone cams and Video cameras ,,, And future employers ?

To gamble today ,, and believe the world or a peep ya meet later down the road ,,>>. ... May or may not put you in a that shuns you for many years to come ..

Even if you are and have been flexable with your views ,>>>>
Ask an ex - con ,, that is totally vested in a new way of thinking ..
Did something in your past ever stop your future ???

[youOme]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
SeptemberMorn:
If only that were true! There's censorship EVERYWHERE!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Exactly! That's why this zone is important to us, no censorship.

As for doing something from the past that affects the future....I can hear that.

[SeptemberMorn]

I understand. It takes a whole lot of maturity and very little ego to allow someone else their oppinion and not argue it or try to change it.

Let us know how it goes, ok? It will be really interesting.

[(JD)]

I think this is great! The more young people do exercise their right to speak, to be heard, and know they don't have the right to not be offended, well, it might grow on them! I like the "meet me at the pole" groups too.

As long as it's done by the students and not the staff, it's totally allowed.