Blog #10 The Progressive Era

Silencing Minority Voices

America was founded on a few main principles, one of those being the power of free voice. When there is an issue like war going on, and because Congress is the branch of the government that decides whether or not the country will go into war, they have also now passed laws that punish anti-war voices. Well doesn't this restriction go completely against everything the United States stands for? The second clause of the First Amendment gave Congress the rule that no law is to ever interfere with freedom of speech and or press. In 1917 the Espionage Act was passed and then the Sedition Act in 1918. Both these acts give the government the ability to punish government employees and private persons who speak out against war or government action.

An example of a case that brought dissenting opinions, which is key in the First Amendment would be Plessy V. Ferguson 1896. The final decision in Plessy v. Ferguson legalized segregation and created the "Separate but equal" doctrine. The dissent in this case was between Justice John Marshall Harlan who argued against the majority decision. 

Looking at the anti-war websites it was eye opening to read through all these dissenting opinions. The differences between what is published by the mainstream media and what is kept in the shadows seems to be becoming more and more of a problem. Americans have to search for minority opinions, and are constantly bombarded by the corrupt ideas given from the mainstream media. 

The difference between the mainstream media content and these smaller minority based opinion website is the emotion and controversy behind what's being shared. What's common in big main stream media is usually an association with a political party, limiting viewers to opinions to be heard. In the case of a journalist publishing news criticizing the government, they could risk a loss of connection or relationship from sources they get information from. 

When it comes to a time of war and conflict is high, the media caters to the more desirable and popular opinion for viewers. In the end a news outlet is based on profit, so if they are continuously sharing anti-war or dissenting opinions, they are likely to not of as well. Wars bring major profit and with money being endlessly desirable for government and big businesses, anything will be done for that.

Anti War. Com and The American Conservative are both important sites that should be talked about more. It is vital for citizens to hear and see all different outlooks on a topic and then come to their own opinion with information from both sides. Mainstream media needs to step back from trying to be most agreeable, but share things like anti-war opinions or all sides of a political spectrum.