The kids aren't all right
The government shouldn't censor the media. Simple concept, right? A free press is at the foundation of a strong republic, isn't it?
A third of this country's high school students don't know that.
A University of Connecticut survey of 112,003 students conducted last spring revealed that 36 percent of respondents believe newspapers should have to get "government approval" of their stories before going to press. Thirty-two percent also said the press has "too much freedom." These statistics closely track the 2004 State of the First Amendment survey, which found that 30 percent of "adult" Americans (note the quotation marks) think the First Amendment "goes too far in the rights it guarantees."
The problem is clear: Too many Americans have a fundamental lack of understanding and respect for constitutional rights. The solutions are a little harder to nail down, but for simplicity, I'll narrow the list to two: 1) mandatory civics education in elementary and middle school, so children will learn early how important First Amendment freedoms are, and 2) widespread repudiation of politicians and pundits who attack the media to try to excuse their behavior or make a quick buck.
One of the underlying causes of many people's hostility toward the First Amendment is the belief that journalists are spreading lies all around them. That perception is fueled by opportunistic politicians and talking heads who accuse any reporter who doesn't repeat White House press releases verbatim of being part of the "liberal media." (As a refresher, let's review: Mother Jones and Air America are liberal media. The Washington Post and CNN aren't.)
These disingenuous charlatans scapegoat the press time and again until, almost inevitably, they poison people's view of the media. That has to stop. We must take the hyperbole artists and spin masters to task whenever they try to conquer by dividing us. We must demand that they stop seeking personal gain at the expense of our democracy. We must ensure that our leaders appeal not to our base emotions but to our noble ideals.
It's hard work, but the Constitution deserves our best efforts.
A third of this country's high school students don't know that.
A University of Connecticut survey of 112,003 students conducted last spring revealed that 36 percent of respondents believe newspapers should have to get "government approval" of their stories before going to press. Thirty-two percent also said the press has "too much freedom." These statistics closely track the 2004 State of the First Amendment survey, which found that 30 percent of "adult" Americans (note the quotation marks) think the First Amendment "goes too far in the rights it guarantees."
The problem is clear: Too many Americans have a fundamental lack of understanding and respect for constitutional rights. The solutions are a little harder to nail down, but for simplicity, I'll narrow the list to two: 1) mandatory civics education in elementary and middle school, so children will learn early how important First Amendment freedoms are, and 2) widespread repudiation of politicians and pundits who attack the media to try to excuse their behavior or make a quick buck.
One of the underlying causes of many people's hostility toward the First Amendment is the belief that journalists are spreading lies all around them. That perception is fueled by opportunistic politicians and talking heads who accuse any reporter who doesn't repeat White House press releases verbatim of being part of the "liberal media." (As a refresher, let's review: Mother Jones and Air America are liberal media. The Washington Post and CNN aren't.)
These disingenuous charlatans scapegoat the press time and again until, almost inevitably, they poison people's view of the media. That has to stop. We must take the hyperbole artists and spin masters to task whenever they try to conquer by dividing us. We must demand that they stop seeking personal gain at the expense of our democracy. We must ensure that our leaders appeal not to our base emotions but to our noble ideals.
It's hard work, but the Constitution deserves our best efforts.
posted by Alabamian at 3:45 PM
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