Ideas of the Enlightenment

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

-Preamble of the U.S. Constitution

Suppressing ideas of any kind is an extremist position contrary to the philosophy of the US constitution and the political and philosophical ideals of its citizens. Although there have been examples of human rights being suppressed for, supposedly, the greater good, freedom of expression – including of course criticism of the government – has historically been a particularly cherished and defended freedom. Entrenching this right in the constitution and making it a cornerstone in the foundation of the country was a first ...