This course explores why the rights to free expression, press, assembly and religious practices are extolled as general ideals but excoriated when actually effectively used.
1. Free expression and security: Is there a difference in our response to the 9/11 attacks and the World War I era Red Scare?
2. Money and conduct as political speech equivalents: What is the connection of flag and cross burnings to corporate political attack ads?
3. Religion in the public sphere and in private behavior: Is there a wall of separation preventing public Ten Commandments and creche displays, or public financial support of private schools, and how far do we go to accommodate non-mainstream individual belief?
4. Pornography, drugs and violence: How do we balance the rights of adults versus our desire to protect children?
5. The challenge of technology: Do new modes and means of expression require a change in our thinking about academic and scientific freedom, privacy, and press freedom?
The PowerPoint Presentation for the May 1, 2012 third session is attached below as a pdf document entitled "113 3d Session Religion 050112". Please click on this link to view it.
To view the PowerPoint Presentation for the April 17, 2012 second session, please click on the pdf document link below, entitled "113 second session draft".
To view the PowerPoint Presentation for the April 3, 2012 first session, please click on the pdf document link below, entitled "First Freedoms 113 class".