Presidential Entertainment: A Brief History

In my opinion, the current political arena is portraying an intensely controversial debate. The stunning content of the arguments delivers provocative views that may seem to misrepresent free speech. Don’t get me wrong, I respect honest people and those who are not afraid to express their beliefs; however, I admire those who are able to articulate their thoughts in a humanely fashion. An important feature of a democratic society permits each person the right to hold his or her own opinions and express them freely without legal interference.

            Notions of equality and citizens entitled to natural rights including political rights were different in the 18^th century. Nevertheless, I will begin with the foundations of U.S. government, which rest on solid political principles and carefully designed documents such as the Constitution. The introduction to the Declaration of independence states the purpose of government in terms of social contract theory, that people create government in order to secure their rights. The Bill of Rights is the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. It includes individual rights the government must respect. Moreover, it guarantees the freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press.

           

            The Declaration of Independence reflects the social contract principle since the colonists at the time believed that King George III failed in his duty to protect the people and their natural rights. The idea of natural rights comes from the philosopher John Locke, and it says that when government is no longer doing its job of protecting natural rights, people have the right to change the government or get rid of it and start a new one.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

– John Locke

            These are rights individuals are born with, that no government can take away. People have interpreted those words to determine rights that give people protection of their personal selves, their material goods, and the ability to determine their future without interference. Everyone’s right to life is protected by law. We must bear in mind other human rights. It is our individual duty to behave conscientiously in respect of other people’s rights in order to prevent misconduct. To convey an opinion ethically, one must proportionately restrict his or her freedom of expression. Article 10 protects political debates and includes the freedom to hold opinions as well as to receive and impart information.

            In addition, Benjamin Franklin explained the idea of popular sovereignty when he enlightened the idea that people are the source of authority and power in government. Government only exists because the people have willed it or given their consent to certain leaders to rule. Popular sovereignty is the principle that the people themselves, rather than the government, have final authority. A direct democracy upholds this principle because the citizens themselves vote to make decisions. A republic can also reflect this principle because the people give power to those they elect as representatives.

            A government is legitimate only if the people agree with its existence, meaning the government has their consent to rule. Social contract takes this a step further to say that this consent places government under an obligation to fulfill its purpose by protecting the people and their rights. If it does not, the people could withdraw their consent, abolish the government, and form a new one.

            The principles of social contract, popular sovereignty, and natural rights are closely related, and they are evident throughout the Declaration of Independence. Political debates are one of the most anticipated events in a presidential race. They are ‘game changers’ and can attract votes faster and guarantee victory. We have come a long way since the 18^th century, and in today’s world, it is more important than ever to be open minded and at the same time to identify controversial bullies. A controversial bully is the type of person that does not want to discuss a topic, but rather they know they are right and they feel the need to educate you.

            In our normal lives we encounter people with different views that we seriously disagree with, who tempt us to try to change their minds. I believe that the first step is for us to be tolerant to people’s views and seek to understand different visions before trying to change other’s opinions. It takes a lot of patience no matter how wrong the other person is, but it allows us to actually think and contemplate in order to state reasonable arguments. It is imperative to avoid arrogance and stubbornness and most importantly, we have to use respect. Human beings must reciprocate their kindness on respecting and tolerating each other’s opinions before imposing their views.