National Security Vs Free Speech: An Ethics Argument

When the issue of Free Speech arises, most if not all of the American Population agree that it is a major aspect of society. But once the Republican War Machine starts its rumbling and they start to ramble about National Security issues, most of the American Public was/is/always will be willing to sit back and let our rights and freedoms, be trampled on in the name of national security.

The 1^st Amendment guarantees us the right to free speech no matter whether or not it is war time, peace time, or there is martial law. It says plain and simple that we are guaranteed the Freedom to speak our minds about issues. Nowhere does it say that the Constitution applies or not to minors, and in most cases it doesn't because Children can not say what they want to a teacher, parent, or professional that they know. Since September 11^th, the debate has become gigantic on what should or shouldn't be allowed. Update: Yesterday, 2 kids were arrested for spray painting threats in Weston and are in danger of being charged in the new Anti-Terror law. Such things as the Patriot Act (1), the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 (2), about 6 Supreme Court cases, and a lot of internet free speech sites including the ACLU (3), and a lot of other places have an insane amount of information regarding Free Speech as related to National Security.