The Freedom to Speak

America is special for numerous reasons. Whether it's our culture or our landscape there are many unique aspects that set us apart from the rest of the world. However, it is our freedom to speak out against the government that sets us apart from many nations in the world. The First Amendment to our Constitution states that "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." The founding fathers knew that it would be necessary for the people to be able to speak out against the government if they believed what the government was doing was wrong. This is just one example of the many aspects of the Constitution that ensure that the people have the right to have a say in the government. I believe that the First Amendment is the most important of those aspects. While many nations around the world adopted the idea of freedom of expression, most western European countries, for example, it was the United States that proved that the nation can succeed if the people have a say in what their leaders are doing. With this freedom, we as a nation have been able to evolve. This is something that is extremely important for a democracy to succeed. In my life specifically, the freedom of expression has allowed me to be able to criticize the way that this government is functioning without fear of being arrested by said government. This is a freedom that so many Americans take for granted, and so many people around the world wish they had.