Graber reading

     The First Amendment unfortunately takes a back seat during times of war in order to avoid potential disaster in light of government wrongdoing.  During war efforts, the government believes suspending the First Amendment is necessary in order to maintain national security.  During World War I in particular, Congress enacted the Espionage Act which made it illegal to defame the U.S. image in any way.  Unfortunately, this led to more than 2000 convictions.  Journalists who had criticized the war effort or the involvement in the war were targeted.  I believe it is highly unnecessary to enact such a law, because it directly infringes upon the rights granted to the American people under the Constitution.

     Special considerations during war should not be made in order to hide the corrupt nature of acting governments.  If the right of free speech is taken away when it should be used to the fullest, the government can lie exponentially.  During the Vietnam War, the Johnson administration manipulated information to keep the general public in support of the war.  Had reporters been able to uncover the shortcomings of the conflict, the decade long conflict could have ended much sooner.  

     I am not in support of the government suspending the rights of journalists and the media.  When such censorship happens, wrongdoing is sure to follow.  For example, the Wikileaks scandal involving Julain Assange should have been constitutionally viable.  But because the government has an interest in covering up the tragedies of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the American people will have difficulty learning the truth of the matter.