As others see it: The lessons of Twitter

Talk about it

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of sp”

That’s as far as James Madison would have gotten tweeting the First Amendment.

In the pen and parchment days, 140 characters couldn’t cover much.

Today of course, Twitter users make and break news every day. The instant, short-form commentary has proven instrumental in uniting people's movements worldwide when governments choose to suppress other channels.

Journalist Malik Al-Abdeh on Oct. 20, 2011, found 140 characters sufficient to tweet: “First to tweet this from on-ground sources and I can confirm: #GADDAFI IS DEAD. He was shot dead by #FF in #Tripoli. #Libya.”

Others have inspired millions with succinct tweets: “Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI.” With this June 28, 2011, tweet from his iPad, the Pope reached out instantly, worldwide. ...

Of course, Twitter remains mostly associated with jokes, notes and inane celebrity observations.

But in these first two weeks of December, students ages 14 and up are encouraged to tweet support for the First Amendment. The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation launched the “Free to Tweet” campaign to celebrate the freedom as vital to today’s Twitter as they were to our 18th century Founding Fathers.

The campaign organized by 1 for All prompts students to reflect on the power of that 221-year-old amendment and share concise thoughts. The campaign culminates Dec. 15 — Bill of Rights Day — with the selection of five winning tweets. Each winner receives a $5,000 college scholarship.

What to say? The possibilities are limitless. Nicholas Creegan of White Plains, N.Y., won a scholarship last year with: “Silence might be golden, but silence never got much done in a democracy. Speak now or don't complain later. #FreeToTweet”

Miracle Stewart, 16, of Louisville, Ky., tweeted: “I write out of passion. They sing for joy. He worships in love. She gathers in support. We petition in hope. We are #freetotweet”

We’d hope every Q-C student would take a moment to consider the power of this First Amendment, then express it over Twitter.

Quad-City Times

Tags: opinion, letters, education