Steve Rogers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2017-01-12 12:06 pm
heroic_jawline) wrote in fandomhigh2017-01-12 12:06 pm
Entry tags:
Civics, Thursday, January 12, 2017
Steve stood in front of the classroom with a small stack of pamphlets. "This is a copy of the US Constitution," he began, handing them out. "And no, before anyone asks, I don't carry them in my uniform pockets."
Tony might have lost a bet on that one. But it had been with Barton, so it didn't even count.
"The Constitution is a document that outlines the framing of the the government of the country, along with the basic laws governing and rights granted to it's citizens," Tony said, picking one up to wave at the class. "You'll each get a copy of your own to keep. "This has been amended from time to time as the world has changed, but it is essentially the concrete law of the land."
"It's also not that long," Steve said. "Fewer than 7,600 words including all of the amendments. It's clear and concise, laying out the framework of our government as the Founders envisioned in a few hundred years ago. The amendments mostly help to keep it a current, living document: banning slavery, letting women and people of color vote, and protecting freedom of assembly, religion, and the press, for instance."
Tony might have cleared his throat a little for no reason at all at the mention of the press. "Today we'll be focusing on the duty of a free press in regards to providing information the the people so that they are able to make informed decisions about their government. And the duty of the government to not infringe upon those abilities."
And then you have, oh, say, Buzzfeed. And certain stories breaking.
Steve nodded emphatically, then passed around another sheet of paper. "This is the latest world press freedom index," he said. "It's compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders and takes into account seven criteria: pluralism of ideas represented in the media; the independence of the media; the degree to which the press self-censors to avoid conflict; laws that govern news and its release; the transparency of information being released; the infrastructure that supports making the news; and the levels of abuse and violence against reporters in the countries. The US currently ranks 41st out of 180 countries, despite press freedom being listed in the very first Constitutional amendment. What do you think contributes to that low-ish ranking? Do you believe that next year's ranking will be higher or lower?"
"And if you don't feel familiar or comfortable enough with using the United States as the subject, let us know what your home is like in regards to the press. Does it even exist? Is it free or controlled by the government?" Tony added for all those dimensions out there.
Tony might have lost a bet on that one. But it had been with Barton, so it didn't even count.
"The Constitution is a document that outlines the framing of the the government of the country, along with the basic laws governing and rights granted to it's citizens," Tony said, picking one up to wave at the class. "You'll each get a copy of your own to keep. "This has been amended from time to time as the world has changed, but it is essentially the concrete law of the land."
"It's also not that long," Steve said. "Fewer than 7,600 words including all of the amendments. It's clear and concise, laying out the framework of our government as the Founders envisioned in a few hundred years ago. The amendments mostly help to keep it a current, living document: banning slavery, letting women and people of color vote, and protecting freedom of assembly, religion, and the press, for instance."
Tony might have cleared his throat a little for no reason at all at the mention of the press. "Today we'll be focusing on the duty of a free press in regards to providing information the the people so that they are able to make informed decisions about their government. And the duty of the government to not infringe upon those abilities."
And then you have, oh, say, Buzzfeed. And certain stories breaking.
Steve nodded emphatically, then passed around another sheet of paper. "This is the latest world press freedom index," he said. "It's compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders and takes into account seven criteria: pluralism of ideas represented in the media; the independence of the media; the degree to which the press self-censors to avoid conflict; laws that govern news and its release; the transparency of information being released; the infrastructure that supports making the news; and the levels of abuse and violence against reporters in the countries. The US currently ranks 41st out of 180 countries, despite press freedom being listed in the very first Constitutional amendment. What do you think contributes to that low-ish ranking? Do you believe that next year's ranking will be higher or lower?"
"And if you don't feel familiar or comfortable enough with using the United States as the subject, let us know what your home is like in regards to the press. Does it even exist? Is it free or controlled by the government?" Tony added for all those dimensions out there.