Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Entry 4- Amendment 1

1) Source:


Obama tries to cool Sept. 11 passions over Islam. September 14, 2009.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42009.html

2) Constitutional Connection:

Amendment 1
“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."

3) Explanation of Connection:

Obama gives a speech trying to lessen the level of prejudice to Islamic people. He argues that it's America's responsibility to not discriminate any race, and that it doesn't matter what someone of their nation or ethnicity may have done.  Based on the actions of a couple Muslims, you can’t hold it against everyone of their skin color or religion. Also, they shouldn't be treated unfairly or differently than any other American just because of what is thought to be abstract beliefs. Another thing that Obama tries to address is the problem concerning a mosque that is being built only a few blocks from where the twin towers collapsed. Many people argue that a place of Muslim worship shouldn't be built so close to where two planes, hijacked by Muslims, crashed into the twin towers killing many people.   “We say no to racist fear. Muslims are welcome here,”
         
          This shows Amendment 1of the U.S. constitution. The Amendment 1 grants the freedom of religion along with other freedoms. This is what Obama is trying to stress in his speech: It is un-American to begrudge someone because of their religious profile. It would also be unconstitutional to prohibit a place of Muslim worship being built, just because it so close to where the twin towers collapsed. People have the right to worship however they want, and also to worship where they want. Although what was committed on 9/11 is an atrocity, you cannot hold it against any religious group.

          The months following 9/11, I remember hearing on the news that many Muslims or even people who looked like Muslims where stopped, questioned, and searched just. All of this was done just because of their appearance. I don't think that should have been allowed. They were assuming that they could be a possible terrorist just because they appeared to be Muslims. This in a way is unconstitutional because they were holding every Muslim responsible for 9/11, and persecuted because of their beliefs. I could not imagine what the U.S. would be like if the 1st amendment wasn't created. It would be a nightmare. You wouldn't be able to express yourself in the form of speech, religion or the press. I think that it was appropriate that this should have been the first correction to the constitution. To me, it is by far the most important.





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