The Indispensable Opposition Walter Liptmann Analysis

Improved Essays
The first amendment guarantees the right to speech and assembly. In an article titled “The Indispensable Opposition,” Walter Lippmann argues that freedom is a necessity to society and it can not function properly without that freedom. Lippmann uses a blunt tone as well as a dramatic pause, strong diction, and a reference from a historical philosopher in attempts to show that with political freedom comes toleration. The blunt tone in lines 1-20 candidly points out the cold hard facts that most men will not accept a different opinion that is not similar to theirs. The straightforwardness cuts to the point and offers truth and reality of what the world is like. The dramatic pause in lines 2-4 allows Lippmann to define political freedom in his

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Oz Hewett The Political Product The Constitution is document laying out the frame of America’s government, written by the creators of this country on a piece of parchment. This document has done a good job of making sure the rights of the people are protected, and that the United States maintains order. After the writing of the Constitution, there were ten amendments made to it, commonly know as the Bill of Rights.…

    • 1300 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Freedom of Speech It was in 1791 that the United States transcribed the ten amendments within the Constitution. The first amendment, Freedom of Speech, is one of the most controversial laws in today’s society. It states that Congress shall make no law that reduces ones freedom of speech or freedom of press. Although there is a law in place stating such freedoms, it is not as clear and simplistic as it states.…

    • 824 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “The first 10 Amendments to the Constitution, or more appropriately, the first eight, are called the Bill of Rights.” (Kanovitz, 2015, p. 20) The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, right to petition, and right to assemble. Although many believe that the first amendment gives full protection, there are certain limits placed upon it. Freedom of speech has limitations when it comes to obscenity, inciting immediate unlawful action, and using fighting words.…

    • 831 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In a civilize society people have the right to freedom of speech and expression. Freedom of speech allow people to communicate their thoughts in an educated manner. This freedom creates an instructive environment, where people can express their opinion and exchange ideas. However, the liberty to articulate ideas can produce social tension. In “Martin’s Letter From Birmingham Jail,”Martin Luther King says, “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws,”(King 4).…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Homepage: 3 ways the U.S. Constitution Protects My Daily Life The First Amendment protects the right of the people peaceably to assemble. The First Amendment affects my life on a daily basis in that when I feel that my rights or that something I stand for is being violated, I am able to assemble with others in protest. The First Amendment also protects a person’s freedom of religion.…

    • 1709 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    John Stuart Mill, a philosopher during the mid-1800’s, is known as one of the most important western political philosophers in the past three hundred years. Many of his arguments on freedom can be seen intertwined with the current way we run societies around the world today. Being a self proclaimed Utilitarian, Mill focuses his arguments on making the collective reside with the most utility possible, with utility being defined by happiness. To achieve maximum utility, Mill presents three larger arguments,the harm principle, experiments of living, and freedom of speech. Before one can begin to agree or criticize Mill's arguments they must first delve into the core of Mill’s teachings, the harm principle.…

    • 1836 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    1st Amendment Importance

    • 1621 Words
    • 7 Pages

    For more than 100 years after the ratification of the Constitution, the First Amendment secured citizens freedoms in principle only. During the twentieth century people have tested the boundaries of the freedoms of the First Amendment in the courts. Through the precedences set by these cases, the freedoms of the First Amendment have become clarified and solidified. It remains the absolute most effective instrument for securing the sacred freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and a redress of grievances by the American public. Establishment of Religion:…

    • 1621 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The First Amendment gave the people of the United States core rights. Citizens have the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of press, right to peacefully assemble, and right to petition the government. In further detail, the government cannot enforce a religion upon its citizens, for they have the right to follow whatever religion or no religion that they wish. Laws cannot be made by the government that prohibit citizens from voicing their opinions. The press is permitted to publish and circulate news.…

    • 511 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The First Amendment

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The first amendment states the five general freedoms of an American citizen: freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and the right to petition the government. On occasion we neglect these write that others have, and we forget the rights that we have. First part of the amendment is the right to free worship and speech. These two rights are relevant in our society today for the reason that it gives us the opportunity to stand up for what we believe in, without being persecuted. We as Americans are lucky to worship freely and speak for what we think is right, Others in countries around the world do not have the privileges we have under killed for sticking up for themselves.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first amendment of the constitution is the right of free speech; throughout our history the first amendment has been interpreted in a number of ways. Despite this fact all Americans agree that this is one of our most important rights, and lays the foundation for our nations core beliefs. The first amendment is a short statement “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.” (1) Though it holds a great deal of power, it upholds strong personal values, and sets a precedent for the future of our country.…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first Amendment protects our freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition as it reads: 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. Throughout history there have been many notable court cases supporting the first amendment such as Schenck v. United States, New York Times v. United States, and Texas v. Johnson they each made offered contributions of shaping the first amendment. For example, the case of New York Times v. United States, permitted newspapers to publish Pentagon papers without government censorship. Evidently, the first amendment is a major and most important part of keeping the democratic U.S government structure.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    He states, “In all such cases there should be personal freedom, legal and social, to do the action and stand the consequences” (Mill, 64). But, in defining freedom, as expressed earlier,…

    • 1838 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Our Founding Fathers established the foundation of our country considering the diversity among the people- a nation of immigrants. Settlers came to the New World to escape religious persecution, a corrupted government, financial turmoil, or just to establish a better way of life and pursue a desirable quality of living. The people of this nation fought for what they presumed, and later declared, as their natural rights as human beings; “[t]he sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power” (Hamilton). The First Amendment is important to protect…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In his essay, Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus (69 - 71), Derek Bok examines just how disruptive a confederate flag can be in a college campus as it has symbolic connections to slavery. Bok 's thesis is that such form of an expression can be offensive, however, this is not enough to prohibit such form of communication due to its First Amendment rights. Bok makes an adequate argument because he assesses the offensive nature of this act as well as the harm that is derived from censorship by mainly providing persuasive notions. Although Derek Bok makes a strong case behind his support of the First Amendment rights, the essay nevertheless conveys various weaknesses.…

    • 1007 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For years, the United States has managed to maintain a balance between its institutional powers and personal rights of its citizens. The US constitution has undergone multiple amendments aimed at providing more freedom while the same time protects the national interests. Recently conducted studies revealed that the majority of Americans feel threaten by the decisions made by the federal government (DePlato, 2015). The paper evaluates institution powers and personal rights that the legislature should consider upholding, eliminating, or adding in a bid to balance between personal rights and national interests. The Most Important Institutional Power and Personal Right…

    • 1019 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays