Words on the First Amendment

The First Amendment can make a lot of things messy—especially because people destroy the integrity of the First Amendment by going “too far” in their notions of expression. For instance, individuals or groups may want to fly a Confederate flag at their house, well this is disrespectful to the majority of the U.S. population, however, these individuals have a wonderful tendency to say “freedom of speech.” Technically speaking, they’re correct, however ethically speaking and in regards to respecting thy neighbors they’re completely wrong.
I think some of the biggest ethical issues we face in regards to contemporary journalism are along the privacy lines. Today, tabloids are more popular than ever—the public loves to know about everyone famous; sometimes this can go too far. I think that “journalists” or magazines may exploit the First Amendment by arguing that they have every right to interviewed Brittany Spear’s nanny or photograph Jennifer Anniston sunbathing at her home. But do they? Absolutely not. Thus, freedom of press has gone too far in some regard. Who deserves to have their lives kept private and who deserves to know about others’ lives… just because someone makes millions in Hollywood doesn’t necessarily make them the target of an exploited First Amendment.
I think often we lose touch of why the First Amendment was created—to prevent the government from limiting what the public should know. However, when the law was created, the government wasn’t necessarily thinking that in 2007, we’d be chasing down celebrities or asking outlandish questions to the President (MTV reporter asking Pres. Clinton: “Boxers or Briefs”).