Are First Amendment Rights the Most Important?

Ariel Boehnlein
For You Editor

Recently, in my World History class, we were discussing our rights as American citizens. Our teacher, Pat Walsh, asked us, "besides your First Amendment rights, what rights do you have?"

He was astounded that the room grew silent and not a single person offered up any other right. He asked us why we didn't know our rights, and said that we have other rights just as important. After we discussed our other rights such as the right to vote, the right to have to an attorney, and our rights to our property, we had a test.

The last question on the test asked us to write an essay about what we believed to be our most important right and why. And I know for sure that not everyone talked about their First Amendment rights.

However, for me, it's clear that my First Amendment rights are the most important to me. It's partially because I'm a journalist. I am completely appreciative that my principal and our school newspaper let me publish anything I feel like writing.

With my First Amendment rights I am able to practice any religion I want to, and when I'm this age I do experiment with other beliefs. I will not be prosecuted for my experimentation either, something unheard of in countries such as the ones in the Middle East.

So, although it's good to know that if I am ever arrested, I have the right to an attorney, I know that the rights I use the most are clearly laid out for me in the First Amendment.