2024 Civics Games winning essays
1st Place – Cadence Breitbach - Poynette High School, Poynette - 11th grade I was nine years old when I found out my personal narrative entry had won a young authors contest. At the time, I only remember being excited and proud of my work. And when I attended the workshops and fun activities that served as the contest’s reward, I doubt I experienced any greater complex thoughts. However, in hindsight, my view of that event is different.
It was never a question for me. As I sat in the workshops surrounded by other young writers who had the chance to share their stories, it never crossed my mind once. But now, eight years older and significantly more aware, I understand the privilege I had when I was young and had only known it as an inherent right.
In sophomore-year Social and Cultural Geography, I learned about countries with policies that seemed completely unfamiliar. Countries where people are silenced if they dare to speak out about their government. Countries where people can not choose for themselves. Countries where people are not allowed to worship as they wish or write as they please.
To me and my classmates, this was abhorrent. To us young American students, the thought of oppression on this scale was confounding and alarming. But to me, it was more than that. I thought of that little nine-year-old girl who had been ecstatic about her personal narrative.
I thought of the children who had sat around me at the workshops, discussing the stories that had brought us to the same place. I remember reading the book full of every winner’s stories. But most of all, I remember not thinking about it twice.
To me, the right to say what I want, to write what I want, was intrinsic. I was not taught at every turn that I had to censor myself or that I couldn’t criticize or praise my system of government as I wished. But the people in those countries? They were. It made me come to a realization.
If I saw or heard something that I thought was wrong, I was entitled to speak about it in any manner I wished. I could go out and peacefully protest the issue all day if I wanted. I could go to any place of worship, but it wasn’t a requirement. In one amendment, I was granted immeasurable freedoms that I never fully understood the significance of. I took these freedoms for granted.
So, I thought of the nine-year-old girl who didn’t understand how lucky she truly was to get to write a story about whatever she wanted. I thought about the children, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, or siblings around the world who do not get such a privilege. Those who cannot speak, write, worship, petition, or protest freely. Those who were not granted the privilege of the rights outlined in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. In the end, it is gratitude. Gratitude for the right to my own voice.
2nd Place – Felix Bishop - Clark Street Community School, Middleton - 11th grade Pressing Forward for the Freedom of Speech Ever since the very first modern newspaper in America, Publick Occurrences, was published on September 25, 1690, the press has solidified its place in the importance of freedom in America by serving as an
See CIVIC GAMES on page 8 outlet for news and opinion separate from government control. Of course, Publick Occurrences was shut down after just four days by the colonial government because it contained “doubtful and uncertain reports,” but it still started a wave of revolutionary proportions with the expansion of newspapers all across America. Eventually, this led to the writing of the Constitution’s First Amendment, forever changing America for the better.
Ninety years after the founding, and subsequent dissolving of Publick Occurrences, our founding fathers declared that “there shall be no law prohibiting American citizens from their freedom of religion, expression, and assembly.” It is America’s crowning achievement that these same rights still shine brightly as a beacon for the freedom of speech across the world.
Without the freedom for the press to spread information and news to the masses, corporate and government power would have the ability to oppress and control what becomes common knowledge. While it is true that many news outlets across America have a certain amount of sway to them, if anything, that just shows the beauty of freedom in how we share our voices. I would always choose an America where the news is so free that somebody may alter facts with opinion, over an America where our voice is so oppressed that I could not find solid and current facts no matter how much I looked.
Within America, there will always be bitter sentiment towards the freedoms the First Amendment protects, such as with people who acrimoniously argue their opinion is the only one that matters, or with those who think that others who don’t share their opinions don’t deserve their rights. However, it is imperative that not only do we retain the freedom to hold and share our opinion, but also the freedom to argue the opinions of others. It is this argument that lets us, the masses, weigh fact over opinion, and personal thought over widespread deception. Such as it was with Edward R. Murrow, American broadcast journalist, speaking against Mccarthyism, and such as it is with the American people continuing to press forward for truth and freedom.
Above all others, the First Amendment will always hold the most value, because it is we the people who declare no Man, Woman, or God, has, or will ever have, the right to take away our voice. While these may not be the exact words our founding fathers penned 236 years ago, they hold the same meaning, and I daresay, even more power.
3rd Place – Jorja Stockton Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Oshkosh - 12th grade 1st Amendment Guest Column Under the first amendment, I, as an American citizen, am granted the freedoms of religion, speech, free press, assembly, and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. At this point in my life, I feel that the most meaningful parts of this amendment to me are the freedoms of religion and speech.
As a Lutheran Christian, I am extremely grateful everyday of my life that I was born in this country, where I am free to practice my religion without needing to worry about my life possibly being threatened because of what I believe. I understand that this doesn’t only protect my life and my beliefs, but the lives and beliefs of millions of people across the U.S. whose right to practice their religion is defended by the government under this amendment.
The freedom of speech that is granted under this amendment is very important to me and what I hope my future will become. As I go into the workforce, I am hoping to pursue a career as a librarian. Through this career, I will aim to encourage children to find their voice, using literature to inspire them creatively. This amendment ensures that all types of literature will be made available to the next generations so that they may become wiser than the ones that came before them.
When I see that a book has been banned, I feel that it is a violation of the first amendment and the freedom of speech that is granted through it. Even if I disagree with the message of the book, I still feel that it should be made available so that all points of view may be made known. Through this, all generations may make educated decisions that will help them improve not only their own lives, but the lives of those around them. I believe that it is possible that any book can be banned because someone, somewhere will find the content uncomfortable. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee has been banned by different establishments before because of its racial content. This is true despite it being a novel that is meant to teach people about racial insensitivity and the value of painful points in history and what we can learn from them.
From my experiences, I know that this amendment is one that I value and cherish and one that I will wield as a tool to forge my future. The first amendment is one that will improve our nation and should never be used as a weapon meant to silence a citizen of the United States who has been provided these rights. These freedoms alloted to me through the first amendment not only affect my past, present, and future, but the past, present, and future of millions of other people throughout the United States of America. Middle School winners 1st Place – Nicolas Giang Waunakee Community Middle School, Waunakee - 8th grade The Importance of the First Amendment 232 Years Later Despite the Constitutional Amendments, specifically the First Amendment which shapes our daily lives, many US citizens never think about it and take it for granted. Reading books, talking politics, attending church, protesting, and petitioning for changes are all things the First Amendment protects.This is not a universal concept though. There are many people who still live in areas without the benefits allowed by the First Amendment. Only 43% of countries were considered to have free expression by the Freedom House, a non profit organization, in the world index. We must remember the importance of the First Amendment to understand the lives of others living under different rules and to be more openminded when meeting them. Despite the creation of it hundreds of years ago, it still holds importance in the present world. And we need to see it as such. As George Washington famously said, “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
2nd Place – Hailey Serbiak-Severson - East Troy Middle School, Burlington - 6th grade To whom it may concern, I would like to point out the recent effect the first amendment had in the present time. For example in the most recent election people had freedom of speech to say whatever they'd like about the results. If it were not for the first amendment that would not be possible. The first amendment plays a big part in the election.
Freedom of speech should stay the way it is. If people were not able to say what they wanted how would different opinions be put out in the world? An even better question would be, how would we say what we wanted online, in person, and in many other places as well? If we did not have freedom of speech to choose whatever or whomever we’d like, how would we get anything done in general. By having freedom of speech in the election people could vote for President Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, or even not vote at all. People were able to be happy or sad about how the election turned out. People had the right to say a few bad words if needed or to jump up and down in celebration. What I’m saying is that if freedom of speech were to get taken away the world would be a very different place for the worse. While some people may say, ”Wouldn't it be for the better, because people would not be able to say something that may hurt someone”. Well as that might be true it would still be worse because even though someone can't say something to hurt another person, no one would be able to share different opinions online, as well people would not be able to be happy or sad about different results. So Although there is one good reason for the first amendment to be taken away or rid away with, there are so many more reasons as to why it should stay. In conclusion, The first amendment has had an effect on present time just as much as it did when it first became a thing, and will hopefully continue to have the effect it's had for the rest of history. Thanks for reading
