Personal Views Expressed in Student Essays

"We need to evaluate carefully all aspects of the people that represent us in this country. Regardless, we continue to have more freedoms that any other country, and for that I am very thankful." SD

"Just a few days ago I was reminiscing about the many events which have occurred since I began my education twelve years ago, when I recalled something significant that my current English teacher told us on the first day of school. She said, 'It is not my job to teach you what to think, but how to think.' I was impressed by this, because in the society we live in, generally everyone wants to teach other people what to think. Unfortunately, this is especially true where our media is concerned. However, I believe that my English teacher's philosophy holds true, not only as a responsibility in the teaching profession, but also in the media as well." OK

"Although I'm sure there are many different things that could be don to lessen the role that the media plays in a presidential election, I do not believe they will ever come into existence because the role of the media is just too powerful in America." KY

"Now is the time to get involved anyway one can and to change this world so our children do not have to grow up watching, reading, listening and living with what our generation had to grow up and put up with." KS

"I think it is good to have a chance to write my own opinion now, concerning this question about the media." TX

"A lot of people have very different opinions about the freedom of speech. Suppose the first Amendment were interpreted to mean that there could be no laws at all limiting speech. If so, people would be able to say anything they wanted, at any time they wanted. People could give military secrets to the enemies, lie in the court, scream in libraries, give political speeches in the middle of church sermons or libel.

That's why some people think that we should limit freedom of expression, and some don't agree with it. My personal opinion about it is that we must have some limitations on the freedom of expression.

Sometimes in politics freedom of speech gets out of control. A lot of reporters use the freedom of speech in the wrong way. Some of them slander candidates and many of them attempt to violate privacy, a fundamental value, which is as much a legacy of the United States Constitution as the basic right of free speech...

I am an exchange student from Russia, and I don't think that in my country, in Russia, we have such problems. People care a lot about candidates' positions and don't even think of finding out about their personal lives. And almost all reporters understand that in such time in Russia there is no need for anybody to write rumors or ridiculous information about candidates' private lives." SD

"I just turned eighteen this year and had my first opportunity to vote. It seems funny to me how similar this (the election process) is to rumors and gossip that fly around in high school, and believe me they cause a lot or problems. But these people are supposed to be adults and they are doing the same thing they advise their kids not to." SD

"When the media has to resort to telling us that President Bush got sick under the table when he went to Japan, and yet show it on television, you know that there must be a problem. You'd think that there were more important things that they could think of to occupy their space in the paper or their time on the tube. Maybe not, huh?...it is no wonder that in each election that is held there are less and less of the younger ones that are voting. I feel that the media has a lot to do with this. Does it really matter who is sleeping with whom? I didn't think so. So what if the man has done drugs in his past, does he now? The things that this country needs to worry about go a lot further than what's happening in Clinton's bedroom. We have enough soap operas on TV the way it is; we do not need to add to them with our leaders' personal lives." SD

"When I see news coverage in action at election time, it makes we think I would never run for office." SD

"In the state of South Dakota, Tom Daschle and Charlene Haar ran against each other for United States Senate. During their campaigns, it seemed like every commercial was a contest on (how) much they could criticize each other. As a registered voter, I would rather hear the issues and how the candidates address them. It is my belief that the media should control this type of campaigning by refusing to run such advertisements." SD

"If every man, person, and child had access to television, I think the print media should keep their nose out of the elections. The viewers would have a better understanding of the candidates' views and ideas without the print media being able (to) twist information around." SD

"This year's election was a blowout." MI