Your Voice is Your Choice

                                 (Sohm, Joe, et al. Checks and Balances. 17 Nov. 2017.)

Expression is vital as a human being, but I believe it is our ability to educate one other and limit one’s power that is a crucial component of today’s society. We are all taught from a young age that those who are in leadership positions within the government have our best interests at heart. Yet, as we grow and learn, we know this is not always the truth. Even more so, each individual has different belief systems upon which they believe the human race should base itself upon. There will always be leaders within the government that each person agrees or disagrees with. We are a democracy, and because of this, we must have the ability to check the power of those in positions above the general public.

For instance, the upcoming election is the perfect time in which citizens can exercise their right to check governmental authorities. In Dino Christenson and Douglas Kriner’s article, “Public outrage derailed Trump’s plans to slow the mail. That’s what keeps presidents in check,” it is blatantly obvious that in regards to a president’s popularity “if their public erodes, that’s politically costly; it reduces their political capital and threatens their ability to wring concessions from Congress on other parts of their agenda.” Yes, being president comes with power, but so does being part of the public’s voice. The individuals of society make up the number of people that the president is a representative for. If the decisions being made by the president do not coincide with the moral values of the majority of the people, the president will immediately begin to lose support while in office.

                (IStock, and Smartboy10. Hands of Society. 5 Dec. 2019.)

Human life revolves around value, whether it is the value of life itself or the values that each life carries out. Society today is largely focusing on the “Black Lives Matter” movement, in which the public has used their power to create reform within the police force. For instance, Haley Byrd and Devan Cole depict the image in “Movement for Black Lives unveils sweeping police reform proposal” that the voices of protestors aided in the “House Democrats pass[ing] legislation that included provisions to overhaul ‘qualified immunity’ for law enforcement, prohibitions on racial profiling by law enforcement and a ban on no-knock warrants on federal drug cases.” Without large masses of movements such as “Black Lives Matter,” changes would not be encouraged or made. Hot topics like this thrive off of the loudness they create, because it gets the attention of those who sit in power. Those running the government want their country to appear as if they are the best. Knowing this, citizens take the opportunity to make noise and create unrest until leaders make the changes they have asked for. Once again, the power is placed into the hands of the people, because their support is what governmental leaders depend on.

Sources:

Byrd, Hayley, and Devan Cole. "Movement for Black Lives unveils sweeping police reform proposal." CNN Politics, 7 July 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/07/07/politics/movement-for-black-lives-police-reform-proposal/index.html. Accessed 22 Sept. 2020.

Christenson, Dino, and Douglas Kriner. "Public outrage derailed Trump's plans to slow the mail. That's what keeps presidents in check." The Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/08/25/public-outrage-derailed-trumps-plans-slow-mail-thats-what-keeps-presidents-check/. Accessed 22 Sept. 2020.

IStock, and Smartboy10. Hands of Society. 5 Dec. 2019.

Sohm, Joe, et al. Checks and Balances. 17 Nov. 2017.

The Two W's: War and Wages

(Bettmann Archive. Anti-Vietnam War protesters march on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C., Novermber 27, 1965. 4 Dec. 1965.)

Though Twitter might not be the best source of news, the app does allow for the voices of the masses to be heard. Social media sites allow society to speak on topics that the news stations simply refuse to focus on. For example, anti-war beliefs are rarely ever plastered within the news. It's not a shocker; war makes money. This concept is a bit odd, considering war also places our country into large amounts of debt. Yet, the companies that provide all the components that make up a war thrive during this time. Now, if the large news corporations started promoting anti-war ideals, other large industries would then cause an uproar. The last thing any affluent businessman wants is money leaving his company.

(Lennihan, Mark, and Associated Press. A business man walks his son to school as they pass the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. In the neighborhood surrounding the New York Stock Exchange, many finance industry employees say they are worried about keeping their jobs. 21 Feb. 2009.)

            Not only do large companies lack the desire to encourage anti-war beliefs, so do those in high political positions. It was shocking to read in Doug Bandow’s article, “Trump Challenges Pro-War Foreign Policy Elite,” that “The president’s desire to withdraw American forces from Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq set off collective hysteria in Washington.” I grew up believing that our government has our best interest at hand, but at my age now, I have realized that the desire for the money and power will almost always defeat the desire for peace. Even when the president himself is against the war, both sides of the democracy fail to cover this news. Both liberals and conservatives are connected to companies and businesses that depend on war for income, and in turn are able to keep their own level of power and income stable.

            Although the ideas revolving anti-war are valid, bigger platforms are needed for the message to become prominent in today's day and age. Society is in need of leaders and companies that are for the people and not themselves. For now, at least, it is important that the obscure websites that do cover anti-war topics keep the belief alive. It takes time to make a difference, and it seems as if the creators of these websites are patient enough to do so.

Sources:

Bandow, Doug. "Trump Challenges Pro-War Foreign Policy Elite." The American Conservative, 17 Sept. 2020, www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/trump-challenges-pro-war-foreign-policy-elite/. Accessed 18 Sept. 2020.

Bettmann Archive. Anti-Vietnam War protesters march on Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C., Novermber 27, 1965. 4 Dec. 1965.

Lennihan, Mark, and Associated Press. A business man walks his son to school as they pass the New York Stock Exchange, in New York. In the neighborhood surrounding the New York Stock Exchange, many finance industry employees say they are worried about keeping their jobs. 21 Feb. 2009.

Your Rights Are Your Fight

 (Hunley, Alexis. Protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles on June 10. 10 June 2020.)

    I will say that I am proud to be in the generation I am in. Yes, we have flaws, but we also have a voice. It seems that nowadays, especially in the year 2020, the bad news continually gets worse as each month passes. Right now, the "Black Lives Matter" movement has made itself a prominent source of protesting and activism. Not only are there protests, but there are many petitions surrounding different aspects of the movement as well, that are going around. Our people are tired, but they are not weak. We must fight for our rights. For instance, our freedom to petition allows our society to speak out against groups including the police force and the government, whom we feel as if are infringing upon our rights. Popular petitions now, are in honor of the victims of injustice: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, and sadly many more. It is victims like these that lost their lives, and through their tragic loss have taught the members of society to emphasize the importance of our First Amendment rights.

(Gauthier, Robert. Black Lives Matter Protest. 2 June 2020.)

     Going a step further than signing petitions comes the freedom of assembly. Joining together as a society for one cause forces government leaders to address the issue. Yet, we have to recognize that condoning assembly means condoning peaceful assembly. The First Amendment does not provide protections against laws of general applicability, meaning that the looting and rioting that is taking place during certain protests do not get a “pass” under the freedom of assembly. While researching the topic of “Black Lives Matter,” I came across an article written by John Eligon for the New York Times titled, “Black Lives Matter Grows as Movement While Facing New Challenges,” in which he argues, “Black Lives Matter protests – or even the possibility of them – have changed the way that people in power respond.” This is exactly the change and push our young activists desire! Checks and balances are nothing without the individuals of society. Citizens check who is in power, and whether that said power is positive or corrupt, and then we demand a balance, or in this case justice within the leadership of our country.

            Fighting for our rights is not an easy battle, but the alternative is living in silence and fear. Without the freedom of assembly and freedom to petition, the “Black Lives Matter” movement would not have the platform and support that it does today. Creating a better world includes changing our present world, and we are lucky to have the rights to do so!

Source:

Eligon, John. "Black Lives Matter Grows as Movement While Facing New Challenges." The New York Times, 28 Aug. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/08/28/us/black-lives-matter-protest.html. Accessed 10 Sept. 2020.

Gauthier, Robert. Black Lives Matter Protest. 2 June 2020.

Hunley, Alexis. Protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Los Angeles on June 10. 10 June 2020.

The Dream Team: The Supreme Court

    

(Semansky, Patrick. Supreme Court Building. 26 Feb. 2020.)

    The inner workings of the Supreme Court, though technical and of high importance, are somewhat a mystery to the public. This could be both an advantage and disadvantage for the Supreme Court. Working secretly and diligently gives the Supreme Court Justices the privacy each of them deserve. Yet, when their decisions become published, there is always a chance that matters will be taken out of context. Since 1776 there have been cases that have helped define and handle the ever-persisting issues that drive the political and social agendas of society today (Com3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1.). Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg highlighted the fact that originally “We the People was composed of a very small part of the people” (Com3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1.). Nowadays the issues the Supreme Court deals with are both made of the same mold as the issues dating back to the Declaration of Independence and the issues of today that are now gaining momentum in rising generations.

            When it comes to a typical day of being a Supreme Court Justice, help is needed through various co-workers and thorough steps. With the large amount of cases that are sent to the Supreme Court over time, it would be impossible to handle every aspect of the process all by themselves. Yet, when it comes to the case itself, the Supreme Court Justice handles it personally. Before the Supreme Court handles a certain case, it goes through a “trial court,” in which lawful inquiries are handled. (Com3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1.)

(Monsivais, Pablo Martinez. Nearly all of the Supreme Court's justices are millionaires. 20 June 2014.)

            Once the Supreme Court Justices decide upon which cases to tackle, then comes the tension and atmosphere of the trial itself. The first question from a Justice is the moment where time feels like it stops, but once the answer is given, the ice is broken and the trial becomes less rigid in its aura. Now, a huge misconception about a Supreme Court case is that it is one big question and answer pool between the Justices and the attorney. Rather, a Supreme Court Case is a silent inner monologue between the Justices who depend on each other to ask questions to the attorney that inadvertently make themselves ask and answer the same question in their minds. (Comm 3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 2.)

            Being a part of the Supreme Court is not a job for the easily burdened. The cases dealt with are of high importance to the individuals they concern and the society they shape. Supreme Court Justices for many years have sustained the law, and added to it the predicaments of our time.

 

Works Cited

"Com3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 1." YouTube, uploaded by Davis Stephens, 11 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWRoXYRsaeo&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 6 Sept. 2020.

"Comm 3390 Supreme Court, Pt. 2." YouTube, uploaded by Davis Stephens, 13 Sept. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca8qSuWxcG8&feature=youtu.be. Accessed 6 Sept. 2020.

Monsivais, Pablo Martinez. Nearly all of the Supreme Court's justices are millionaires. 20 June 2014.

Semansky, Patrick. Supreme Court Building. 26 Feb. 2020.