A government that restricts people’s freedom of expression is a perfect example of what freedom is not. Women in Saudi Arabia cannot perform simple tasks such as making their own decisions, making decisions for their children, or deciding to work without permission among many other tasks. The Week’s article "Seven Things Women in Saudi Arabia Cannot Do" states that the male guardianship system “prevents women from doing vital tasks without …show more content…
Colin Kaepernick was and NFL quarterback who chose not to stand during the playing of the national anthem at a football game. In the article "In the 'land of the Free,' Are You Free to Sit out the National Anthem?" by Jaweed Kaleem from the Los Angeles Times, Kaepernick stated he would not stand “for a country that oppresses black people and people of color”. Expressing his First Amendment rights did not incriminate Kaepernick in any way. This is an example of freedom in the real world because Kaepernick was able to protest peacefully without silence or punishment. Clearly, Kaepernick’s ability to express his views about his country publicly is what it is like to be truly free. John and Mary Tinker along with their friend Chris Eckhardt protested the Vietnam War at their school. The students protested by wearing black armbands, and school officials asked them to remove the armbands, but they refused. Consequently, the students were suspended. As a result, the students sued the school and the case eventually reached the Supreme Court. The article “How Much Freedom do Constitutional Laws Give us?” stated the Court sided with the students and stated students and teachers do not “shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate”. Additionally, the Court ruled that students have a right to freedom of expression as long as it did not …show more content…
In the Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District case, the court ruled in the students favor. As a result, if students do not interfere with school functions, then they can express themselves freely. However, if a student does interfered with the school, then the school has a right to cease the disruptions. Freedom of expression should belong to all, and not just adults. Giving a voice to all and not just a select few is one of the excellent functions of true freedom. If one group of people has more freedoms than another group, then that is not really freedom at all. Similarly, the Bethel School District v. Fraser case is both alike and unalike when compared to the Tinker case. Both are similar because they discuss the First Amendment rights while at school; however, the context of the expression was very different. The school suspended one of their students Matthew Fraser for presenting a speech, which contained sexual innuendos at a school event. The court considered Fraser’s actions disruptive and inappropriate, and the court ruled that the school was justified in its decision to suspend Fraser. Limiting the freedom of expression is sometimes necessary in order to protect others. The school did not suspend Fraser for speaking freely; rather his offensive and disruptive speech is what caused his suspension. The court was right in its ruling because while all have the right to