As I promised to you all yesterday, I'm going to use this entry to brainstorm the topic of my opinionated essay, which is due next week.

Being the citizens of the United States of America, we are given certain rights and privileges. One of these important privileges is provided to us through the first amendment of our constitution, the freedom of speech. Every person in our world is born with a distinct voice of his or her own. The true question is whether or not a person is actually granted freedom of speech, in all of its entirety, and whether or not such a thing actually exists.

Speech is fundamental to the existence of mankind. For centuries, man has communicated among man, which has allowed him to dominate over any natural obstacles that has been hurdled at him. Man, being the brilliant creature that he is, installed a set of rights and practices for his fellow man to follow, restricting certain accesses and priorities, and limiting certain functions. Most of the limitations in our country can be found in our constitution, however many other of the so-called laws have been brought to us simply by means of status quo.

Freedom of speech, like most things in the world today, has two sides. One of these sides is very positive, and entails an amazing realm of possibility, which includes the fundamental existence of democracy as well as human dignity. Speech has also allowed man to pass down knowledge from generation to generation, learning from both success and mistake to further progress the evolutionary cycle of mankind. Speech is also directly linked with expression, because one often expresses himself through his diction, be it oral, written on paper, or passed on through some other means.

Even though there are many positive aspects to speech, there are also a large number of frightening, and dangerous aspects as well. Due to the fact that speech is directly linked with expression, one has full power to use that freedom to show his discontent with the status quo, and the desire he has to change it. For example, the lyrics of several contemporary rap artists today are often times profane or vulgar, however they are able to use the solid argument that it is a gift granted to them by our very own government, the freedom of expression.

What one should consider is that we do indeed have a freedom of speech, as mentioned in the example of rap artists expressing themselves. However, what one should also consider is that very same freedom of speech is also given certain limitations by the government, therefore not making it a true freedom of speech, but rather a constricted freedom, and a freedom which we no longer have.

Well, I went away and sang carols at the church with my Mom and Dad just now. My inspiration for talking about free speech seems to be over for the time being, so when I fully finish my essay I'll be sure to upload the final copy.

For now, take care my friends.