Debate about What Exactly is Covered by the Fisrt Amendment

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There has been much debate about what exactly is covered by the first amendment. True, it blankets free speech, but should it always apply? Obviously not when public safety is at stake. For example, yelling “Fire!” in a crowded area is punishable by law because it causes public endangerment. But, some people insist these restrictions to free speech should be more generally applied. Some even believe newspapers should be censored. They even go so far as to state certain pictures should not be published at all because they believe pictures could negatively affect the general public. Publication of controversial pictures is essential and greatly compensates for any discomfort caused by them.

In 1963, South Vietnam was commanded by Ngo Dinh Diem. Diem led the South Vietnamese government in the persecution of Buddhists. This caused great unrest in South Vietnam. One particular man was so distressed by this, he decided to rebel. That man was Thich Quang Duc. In the middle of a busy intersection in Saigon, Quang Duc set himself on fire. Press had been notified of a protest in the area previously, but none took it seriously. Malcolm Browne, an American journalist, was present, however. He captured the death of Quang Duc on camera.

Since Browne did not zoom in on Quang Duc, the viewer is able to see many things in the background of the photo. The most obvious thing in the background is a small building that looks as if it is a store of some type. This seems like an ordinary store, in a seemingly ordinary place, if it were not for what is happening in front of it. A crowd of people is gathered around. The crowd appears to be standing very still; all eyes are focused on Quang Duc. Some spectators are seen kneeling in front of the others,...

... middle of paper ...

... thought-provoking pictures. Newspapers are essential to informing readers about what is going on in the world around them. Newspapers striving to persuade readers may publish biased articles, but a picture is always trustworthy. By appealing purely to a viewer’s emotions, pictures are much more influential than words could ever be. Ultimately, it is imperative newspapers publish controversial pictures for the sake of the common good.

Works Cited

Barnet, Sylvan, and Hugo Bedau. “Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to Critical

Thinking and Argument, with Readings”. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014. Print.

Browne, Malcolm. NBC News. Jun. 2013. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.

Ephron, Nora. “The Boston Photographs”. Barnet and Bedau 170-175. Print.

Lat, David, and Zachary Shemtob. “Executions Should Be Televised”. Barnet and Bedau 53-55.

Print.

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