Eight Values of Free Expression 

    Whether it be what we wear, what we say, or even what we post on social media, we are constantly expressing ourselves through speech. The freedoms given to us from the First Amendment also consists of eight values of free expression. These eight values are individualized to provide their own protections, but work in conjunction with each other to create an environment of free speech and expression to every citizen. The eight values consist of marketplace of ideas, participation in self- government, stable change, individual self-fulfillment, check on governmental power, promote tolerance, promote innovation, and protect dissent. 

Marketplace of Ideas is the first value, also known as the Discovery of Truth, and this value ensures that the people can receive all information: true or false, because the truth will always win out.

Participation in Self-Government is the second value and it encourages election candidates to communicate, for example in debates; then voters can make wise decisions during election time and understand the candidates stances on important information. 

Stable Change is the third value and known as "Safety Valve", this value recognizes that citizens who are allowed to vent or speak their minds on issues are more less likely to resort to violence; so this value promotes freedom of speech.

Individual Self-Fulfillment is the fourth value that furthers free speech in a way that enables individuals to express themselves freely and create their own identity. 

Check on Governmental Power is the fifth value that is part of the checks and balance system in order to keep the government from abusing power. 

Promote tolerance is the sixth value and it teaches us to become a more tolerant society because all types of speech, including hate speech, are protected by the government which then allows us to spread norms on what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. 

Promote Innovation is the seventh value and this value protects and promotes a community in which the people can actively fulfill themselves in a unique way to create an interesting society. 

Protect Dissent is the eighth value that protects minority views and protects your right to disagree with the government even if it is unpopular. 

After reflecting on all of these values, I realize how they are so important in their own ways. Promote Innovation resonated most with me because I am a university student and love a unique environment with a diverse community full of people with different backgrounds and interests/ hobbies. I do, however, feel that Check on Governmental Power is the most important value because is a necessary duty that we, as citizens, have to play a part in, in order to prevent abuse of power. Marketplace of Ideas feels most personal to me because when I make judgements or opinions on things, I like to know as much information as possible and then be able to research and sift out the false information to have an educated opinion on whatever it may be. We see a lot of these values shift importance throughout the decades, and prove that each play a vital role so that we get to live in a government that grants us free speech. Freedom of speech can be most important during elections and Participation in Self- Government is one value that I see most in action today. With Election Day coming up, there have been many campaigns throughout all types of social media including Hulu and YouTube advertisements. These campaigns are very important to provide voters with information and helps voters understand candidates stances on political issues. If more information on these values and the importance of free expression, read ACLU article on Freedom of Expression. 

 Supreme Court History

    I have always been highly fascinated by the history of our government. There is no doubt that it is important to understand the three branches of government as well as where laws come from, especially to be knowledgable of the laws that protect us and the freedoms we have living in the United States. The history of the Supreme Court was something I had little to no knowledge on. Reading the Supreme Court article and watching a documentary on the SCOTUS, left me with a deeper understanding of the importance that the Judiciary branch holds. 

The judiciary act was signed by our very first president George Washington in 1789. This was new information to me as I never knew what president introduced the law. In my opinion, the most important thing that I took away was all of the important and prominent cases that have had lasting impacts on our government.  With the 200 plus years history, just a few examples of the cases that have been acted towards are the Brown v. Board of Education that banned segregation in schools, Loving v. Virginia which abolished laws against interracial marriages, and Gideon v. Wainwright that provides defendants with legal representation free of charge if they cannot afford it. 

There were also many things that surprised me. Did you know the Supreme Court didn't hear any cases for the entire duration of its first term? There was also a Chief Justice that served in the position for more than 34 years! These were by far the most surprising to me out of all the information in the article. This article changed the way I thought of the Supreme Court in ways that helped me understand how far we have come. All of the changes that have occurred have shown me that the Supreme Court does deserve respect for the amount of recognition they give towards the people of the United States. The SCOTUS is very crucial part of our Government and moving forward, I plan to stay up to date with our current situations, as they will one day be the past we teach generations to come. 

My Top Five News Sources

My Top Five News Sources 

It is so important to know what is going on in the world. I check news sources regularly and always fact check to be confident in my knowledge of current events. It always makes it so much easier to trust your source and know that you are getting reliable information that matters. Here are a few of my favorite news related sources:

1. Apple News

Like many in my generation, I always have my phone on me and use it every single day. The Apple News App is one of my favorite news sources because it contains all of the magazines and newspapers you love on the go and with you everywhere you take your iPhone. With over 300 publications to choose from as well as Apples' own source of news media, you are able to find any and all types of news. I always turn on notifications for my favorite publications so I never miss a thing. They also offer an option to listen to the news via podcasts. Subscription is not necessary but is worth it if you are willing to invest the money.

2. The New York Times 

The New York Times is a recognizable news source to many. One of the main reasons I am so fond of it is the fact that it is a reliable world wide news source that covers international stories and events from more than 150 countries around the world. International news is important because it provides information beyond our own personal knowledge and is such an overlooked privilege to understand what goes on in countries other than the one we live in. The New York Times can be accessed free of charge but subscriptions are available for additional accommodations such as podcasts and even newspaper deliveries. 

3.  Forbes

Forbes is a well renowned business news source that features finance articles about investments, marketing, and well-known professionals with high net-worths. As a college student, I love browsing this website and learning about celebrity business owners and their stories. This is a very educational news source but its also entertaining and inspiring to deepen understanding on financial investments and money making skills. In addition to this, they also provide news on pop-culture such as articles about movies/ tv shows, highest paid actors, awards rewarded to famous singers, and so much more. I appreciate this news source as it keeps me in the loop with current events and even Netflix releases. This is also a source available to everyone but subscriptions, if desired, provides "member-only" events, all access news, as well as interruption free with less ads. 

4. Fox News

When it comes to politics, news outlets are constantly updating the people with current events. Especially in today's world and with elections coming up it is important to stay up to date with what is going on in terms of politics. Fox News is biased, however it does share current political important information on what is going on within the Unites States as well as our relations with other countries and political issues that we are dealing with abroad. I enjoy watching Fox News on the TV but I also do once in a while review articles from my Apple News app on my iPhone. It is a great source to become more politically knowledgable and be able to understand the constitutional republic that we live in. Like the other news sources, this is free with an option to subscribe and have live news on the go.

5. BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed is a source that contains an abundance of media. Whether it be breaking news, food recipes, DIY projects, or even everyday life hacks, BuzzFeed has it all. This is a somewhat lighthearted news source that is more entertaining than the others and I enjoy watching their videos, reading the articles, and even taking their BuzzFeed quizzes. Their focus on digital media and pop-culture is a great source of clear and precise information that may add to your personal problem-solving skills as well as keep you in the loop with current trends. BuzzFeed has content throughout social media platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Youtube, and much more. Subscriptions are available for exclusive content and they even send you merchandise when you sign up!