Prompt: Science, math, and society are filled with postulates, laws, and theories like the Ninth Commandment, PV=nRT, Occam's Razor, and H.R. 3541. Warm air rises. Good (English) grammar requires 'i' before 'e' except after 'c.' So pick a law, any law, and explain its significance to you.
I believe that the first amendment is the best law ever written. This is because it protects my right to free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, and freedom of press, and a separation of church and state. It allows us to read what others have written and hear what others have spoken. It also gives us the important right to protest.
It feels good to be able to believe in whatever religion I want without being afraid of being rebuked for it. In France for example there was a ban on religious symbols and apparel in public schools. The ban included Muslim headscarves, Sikh turbans, Jewish skullcaps, and large Christian crosses. The main focus of the ban however was on Muslim headscarves. Coming from a religious background with friends and family who wear Muslim headscarves the issue is important to me. I am extremely thankful to be living in a country where this can not occur because of the first amendment. Many of my friends wear "hijabs" to public schools and I would hate to have to see them chose between religion and an education. Thanks to the first amendment they are free to express their religious beliefs as they please.
Thanks to the first amendment we are allowed to have debates and speak freely as we please. The best thing about debates is that you are allowed to hear both sides of the story and are free to interpret the facts and opinions in your own way. Without the first amendment there would be only one side to every idea and we would be forced to accept that once side. There also wouldn't be newspapers because newspapers require freedom of press. Without it life would be like the society of Oceania in George Orwell's novel 1984. As Orwell puts it, we would be speaking in Newspeak with the list of words being shortened daily. Big Brother would really be watching us...
One of the best things that results from the first amendment is a right to protest. With Occupy Boston currently going on I understand the importance of a right to protest. The protestors are occupying Boston for a change in the financial districts of Boston similarly to the individuals occupying Wall Street. Without the first amendment these individuals would not be able to have a say in government and would certainly not be allowed to protest. Indifferent towards political views it is great to be able to protest against what we find unfair in our government and to be able to have a say and maybe even an impact.
Without the first amendment I wouldn't be surprised to see a country similar to that of Nazi Germany
