My Value of Free Expression Reflection

 In my life, free expression has not always been easy. I have lived a life of dissenting opinions. Steve Shiffrin's Theory of Protecting Dissent tells us, "The First Amendment protects minority views, no matter how unpopular. You have a strongly protected right to disagree with the government — and everyone else." This theory really has resonated with me in my life. I am a young man from Maryland, where I attended a public high school where I was a racial, spiritual, cultural, and especially political minority. 

I have always been interested in civics and the government. My first realization that my free expression was being attacked was in my 10th-grade AP Government class, where I was shamed and shunned by classmates for making a seemingly common-sense statement regarding how, during the Black Lives Matter movement, the idea of stores being raided was wrong and had lost sight of the ideals that the 1st Amendment protects. 

 The next major example of protecting dissent in my life was when I had to petition for my school to allow me to continue the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club.

FCA

I joined this club in my freshman year to grow the Christian faith through a shared connection to sport. My school tried to shut down the club, saying it "incited violence" and "went against the values of the school." I fought for my club and advocated against my school and the Board of Education, where I eventually won my case and grew the club to 100 members by the time I graduated as a senior. I fought for my beliefs, even though they were the dissenting opinion to the ideals of the school. 

As I moved on from high school and decided I wanted to attend a school 300 miles away, High Point University, I was excited to know I would be attending a school with the values of "God, Family, Country".

High Point University

These are values I hold near and dear to me, the same values I was shunned for having in Maryland. However, there are still things where I am the minority and dissenting opinion. 

I am a proud and devout Catholic man. High Point University is a Methodist institution. Though Catholic and Methodist are both denominations of the Christian faith, there are very large fundamental differences between the two. I have found myself in many scenarios where professors, peers, and staff judge me for my beliefs when I speak on topics such as Lent, Sacraments, and the identity of Faith. I am unwavering in my beliefs, but always willing to learn other perspectives. However, I have been attacked for just having a dissenting belief from the majority of the school. I never wavered or backed down when someone told me my beliefs were wrong; because of that I have protected my dissent. 

Supreme Court Reflection

 

The Supreme Court of the United States is the Most Powerful Court in the World

Before watching Part I of this video series, I knew the Supreme Court was an important institution, but I did not realize just how much power it holds. One of the first things that stood out to me was the idea that it is considered the most powerful judicial body on Earth. I was also surprised to learn that all of its decisions are made in private, which gives the Court a level of independence that I had not fully understood before.

The biggest takeaway from this video was the importance of the vetting process for Supreme Court nominees. Justices are appointed by a president, but their influence continues long after that president has left office. Because of the lasting impact of their decisions, it became clear to me why the selection process receives so much public attention and scrutiny.

Chief Justice John Marshall

Another topic that caught my attention was the history of the Court. I learned that John Marshall, the first Chief Justice, established the principle of judicial review through Marbury v. Madison. This gave the Court the authority to strike down laws and actions that violate the Constitution. I did not previously know that the Court had the power to overturn unconstitutional acts, so this was one of the most educational parts of the video for me.

I was also surprised to learn about the Court's role in the Dred Scott decision under Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney. The video described this ruling as a major self-inflicted wound for the Court, and I learned that the 14th Amendment later overturned that decision. This example showed me that Supreme Court rulings can have long-lasting consequences, both positive and negative.

Another interesting fact was how selective the Court is. It receives roughly 7,000 cases each year but hears only about 100. I also learned that cases must move through multiple lower courts before reaching the Supreme Court.

One of the most positive things I learned was that the justices maintain a tradition of civility. Despite disagreements, they shake hands before hearing every case. That small gesture changed how I view the Court and reminded me that respect can exist even in the midst of significant differences of opinion.

AI DISCLOSURE: This post was created in collaboration with Microsoft Copilot. I took detailed notes while watching a 20-minute video about the history of the Supreme Court. In addition to facts that I learned, I emphasized my own reactions and opinions while watching. I then asked Copilot to help me improve the text by correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I then asked Copilot to help me shape the text into a blog post format. After review, I then added links to related resources, as well as appropriate images and captions.

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5 Sources of Information

 In an age where information can come from any which way, I find it important to not only modernize but also expand the way I receive my information. Whether it be through social media, watching the news, reading a local story, or a sit-down conversation with someone wiser and more knowledgeable than me, I find a way to receive information every day. 

1. ESPN 

 My first source of information would be through a basic read of the ESPN headlines of the given day.

I am an avid sports fan, so getting to either read or watch a highlight of a breaking story is always a joy. I would recommend this to someone who is just looking for a quick blurb about what's happening in sports today, not a full breakdown. Here is a story I found particularly interesting today as I write this post, 08/26/26.

2. Bill Maher

 A second news source I love is the comedic outlook on politics Bill Maher provides. If you are looking for someone who thinks our government is just as stupid as you think it is, Maher is your man.

He finds ways to state the relatively obvious with a comedic tone that brings you to chuckle off any frustrations you may have. Attached is a segment from a recent show of his where he comments on the Democratic Party's double standards.  

3. John Kiriakou

Another source of information I absolutely love is John Kiriakou's podcast. As a former CIA counterterrorism agent, Kiriakou was on the front lines of the War on Terror post 9/11. He is esteemed for his bravery in disclosing the CIA's torture program and his willingness to share his stories of working for the CIA. I would recommend him to anyone who is interested in how the CIA conducts its business outside of our country's borders. Attached is a video I always find myself coming back to by Kiriakou, where he talked about what the CIA knew about 9/11 before it happened. 

4. Charlie Kirk

 As polarizing as he may be to some, another source of information I receive was, and still is, Charlie Kirk. Love him or hate him, what Charlie Kirk has done to connect America's youth and get them involved in politics is really special. His urge to see Gen Z children involved in their future and his refusal for his followers to be apathetic about politics made Charlie stand out above other political commentators. As we approach one year since his assassination, his movement has only grown stronger. I would recommend Charlie Kirk to anyone who feels like their lives are being decided by people they never elected, and they want to do something about it.

Attached is Charlie's famous speech from the 2024 RNC where he implores young people to be active in their politics. 

5. My Grandfather

 My last form of information is one that I cannot link to a blog post. I say this because this source is not from a news article, reel, or video. This final source is a weekly talk with my grandfather about the world of the past, present, and future. I look forward to this call every week because it gives me insight into the world through the lens of someone who was born 1 month after Pearl Harbor, has fought in Vietnam, and lived the American dream, going from a childhood where his bed was a dresser drawer to now living a life with 2 daughters, 5 grandchildren, and enough memories to write a book. So, I recommend anyone who reads this to call someone in your life and just talk, because there is no greater gift than the ability to learn about someone else's life.