The first amendment states this 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. These very rights are what, for the most part, defines what it means to be an American. I am proud of these rights because it lets me, as an individual, express thoughts and beliefs. It just saddens me when I hear of laws that claim to be unconstitutional when they are. For example, the bills HR 347 I believe, is a violation of freedom of speech and assemble. If I have a sign that says blah blah sucks, and shout angrily while I hold up the sign, then that should be just. I don’t think it’s fair that the government makes these laws to make sure they remain safe, that is not the reason why WE THE PEOPLE, elect them in the first place. We elect so they can protect us, as citizens.

          When I think of freedom of religion, I think of people practicing what they want to practice, with hurting or damaging another person in any way. However, our government has not done a fabulous job in making sure that religion doesn’t affect anyone. When it comes to gay marriage, religion has played a major role when determining if people are allowed to be wed. Citizens and the government vote, deny people these basic rights due to religious ideas or beliefs. This shouldn’t be the case on anything! I feel there was never a line drawn when they made the constitution, of how much religion should be influencing ones opinions on matters.

Out of all the scholars we have talked about this semester, I have to say that I enjoyed Emerson the most. The reason why I enjoyed Emerson was because he points to a lot issues that still resonate today. Emerson wrote, “I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institution.” This quote speaks for us today; I feel a prime example for this is, is our education system. I feel out country is too focused on creating the next scientist. We want our future children to be the next engineer, astronaut, doctor, or inventor. I am not stating that this is bad, I think it’s a good we want our country to remain supreme in the sciences like it once did, but this shows how despite we are. I believe one day we are going to have all these scientist, and a lack of writers, artist, musicians and scholars. As a country we need to be okay that we are not the investors of things, maybe which will help the world get along, if no one is in charge. The last quote from Emerson that resonated with me had to be “a great man is coming to eat at my house. I do not wish to please him; I wish that he should wish to please men” this quote goes against some of our social norms. It is taught that when you have a special or important person coming to the house, as the host, one should all they can to make sure that quest is happy, however, I understand what Emerson is coming from, if a great person is coming to my house, I hope they are as impressive as they seem to be.