Over the years many have fought and died for the freedoms which Americans have, it is important to understand why the First Amendment is not something to be taken advantage of or forgotten.

In today’s society, it is at times difficult for people to accept points of view with which they may not agree. When they hear or read an idea that causes controversy or disagreement, they almost immediately begin to consider how they will respond.

People never take the time to consider the fact that they both parties have the right to even have the opinion or to voice the opinion in public.  These people have to realize that they have the right to disagree with the opinion and speak out against it, but the other side of the issue has the same right as well. Instead, Americans have become so accustomed to having the right that they no longer consider what it would be like to have that right taken away.

Just because an idea is controversial does not mean that is should be censored as long as the idea cannot do harm to others. The First Amendment is not a means of protection for popular ideas with which a great deal of the country agrees. Instead, this part of the Bill of Rights is meant to protect the unpopular, controversial speech that many citizens many not like.

For example, Marilyn Manson a hard-core rock singer, was paid approximately three million dollars by the city of Columbia, South Carolina, NOT to perform a concert in their city. His music about sex, drugs, and anti-religion is very unpopular in certain areas. However because he is in America, he still has the right to share his own ethics and principles, even if they are not highly agreed with.