America is one of the few free nations in the world. Americans are used to having all of the rights that a lot of other countries don’t have including freedom of religion, press and speech.
October 21-24 was Free Speech Week in the U.S. The UTM chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) celebrated by hosting a First Amendment Free Food Festival where they created their own “country” in front of the University Center on Thursday, Oct. 24.
The make-believe country was called the “Kingdom of the Socialist States of the People’s Republic of Martin.” This title represented a place where people had to temporarily sign away their First Amendment rights in order to enter. Over 60 students signed away their rights for free food. They were given a passport to get in and out, a small piece of pizza and a small cup of water. This was to symbolize how other countries don’t have the freedoms America offers.
Tomi Parrish, a communications professor and adviser for SPJ at UTM stated, “The point isn’t to feed people. The point is to make them realize how lucky we are.”
There were many students that decided not to enter the country because they wanted to keep their rights. These students were applauded because they understand what they have in America and refused to give that up even for a free lunch.
The students that did enter and participate could not talk to anyone while inside, and if they disobeyed, they got sent to “jail.” One student in particular did not appreciate being told that she couldn’t speak during the activity. Minnisha Banks, a communications major, was sent to jail for telling someone good morning while she was inside the socialist country.
“This is awful. I should be able to speak if I want,” Banks said.
Another student that participated followed the rules, but did not like what he had to do. Garrett Cote, a political science major, sat quietly and ate his pizza. Being a political science major, Cote knew the First Amendment well. He was hesitant at first, but he enjoyed what he learned.
“This made me realize what it’s like to be in a different country that doesn’t have the same rights,” said Cote. “This is a good way to see how other countries work.”
There was another student who stayed longer than anyone there. He said he simply didn’t have anything else to do, and he doesn’t talk much anyway. Also, there was free pizza. Cody Burress, a Licensure K-12 major, said that even though this activity was easier for him than others, it did make him realize the difference between America and other countries. He also said he prefers America.
There was a group of Army National Guard members standing outside the “border” of the socialist country. Two soldiers entered. One was Thomas Champion of the Tennessee Army National Guard and a senior in the ROTC program at UTM was happy to go inside to see what this country was like. Champion began to pray over his meal when he sat down, but was quickly stopped by members of the foreign government. Praying in public is not allowed in many other countries.
“A lot of people don’t understand,” said Champion. “Dictators take rights away a little at a time; so, it is harder for people to notice.”
Champion’s point is that in some other countries, the people may be given food or healthcare, but if they speak up for what they believe in, they are chastised. In this particular case, the students were given pizza, but they could not speak or even sit next to someone else without getting into trouble.
The “Kingdom of the Socialist States of the People’s Republic of Martin” may not be a real place, but there are countries out there that are a lot like it; countries without a First Amendment or any rights at all.
“A lot of people take the First Amendment for granted. Some don’t even know all the rights the First Amendment provides, which is sad,” said SPJ Publicity Chair Malorie Paine. “We wanted to host the First Amendment Free Food Festival to show students that we are lucky to live in a country where we can say almost anything that we want to say. It was great to see so many students really experience the importance of the First Amendment. I believe we accomplished our goal.”
Free Speech Week is important to the members of UTM’s SPJ. Their goal was to teach the students at UTM that everyone should appreciate not only Free Speech Week, but also the rights granted by the First Amendment.
