Speak for Yourself

On September 25, 1789 the fore fathers of the United States proposed what is now known as the U.S. Constitution. The first Amendment that was declared stated:
“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 peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
However, the origin of law was around even before the First Amendment came to be a law. Areopagitica was published November 23, 1644 at the height of the English Civil War. This story essentially advocated for removal of censorship, claiming that censorship did not exist in the Greek or Roman society therefore it should not exist at all. According to John Milton’s Areopagitica , “And though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth so truth be in the field, we do injuriously by licensing and prohibiting to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple; who ever knew truth put to the worse in a free and open encounter.” This is of extreme significance to the origin of law because it advocates for removal of censorship in addition to the implementation of freedom of speech. Furthermore, the story of Areopagitica advocated the idea that common law should exist and that each party should have the right to speak their mind. Individuals should have the right to argue and defend their speech; they should be able to use logos based appeals in order support their speech. Finally a large portion of Areopagitica is based on the importance of learning. Essentially there needs to be a balance of all of these things in order for law to work properly. It is my belief that the United States is closest to managing this balancing act. The United States realized that in order for learning to fully