Opinion

Emily Gill: Executive order cannot nix birthright citizenship

Emily Gill

Most undocumented immigrants have been hard-working residents of the U.S. for years. Without Birthright Citizenshiip, their U.S.-born children would become stateless persons, with no rights because no government would be obligated to protect them. As the political philosopher Hannah Arendt wrote, citizenship is ‘the right to have rights.’

Emily Gill: Public displays of the Ten Commandments and religious rights

Emily Gill

A Ten Commandments display is coercive in its effects, as students cannot opt out of viewing it when it will be present in all educational settings throughout their school years; plus the display will constitute only one version of the Ten Commandments, whereas different versions are orthodox to different religious denominations.

Make joyful noise and sing!

Singing is a simple, joyful activity, opening people to one another at various levels in a natural, easy way. The shortest distance between two people is a song!

Emily Gill: Freedom of speech can also include freedom not to hear it, too

Emily Gill

Does Worker Freedom of Speech Act that Illinois Governor Pritzker signed into law and will take effect on Jan. 1, prevents businesses from sanctioning or punishing employees who decline to attend meetings that put forward the religious or political views of these businesses. Does it adhere to the First Amendment?