In George Orwell's 1984 book, he talks about the "obliteration of the self" in Oceanian society. As Americans, we have the First Amendment which gives us freedom of speech, religion, press, petition and assembly. These five freedoms give American citizens the ability to embrace their individuality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get an Original EssayFreedom of speech is the most important of the First Amendment. People are capable of saying almost anything they think about the government, people, etc., to some extent. If we lived in a time where the idea of ​​self-effacement was practiced, any attempt at protest would be punishable by law. In 1984, any attempt to speak out or rebel against the government resulted in arrests, torture, and exclusion from society. People who opposed the rulers would be forgotten and there would be no record of their existence. In today's society, people can be praised and followed for speaking out on important issues. There is no sanction for expressing an opinion, threats can be made against anything, as long as they are not carried out. The opinion can be questioned, but the person cannot be imprisoned, much less tortured as they were in 1984. Without the power of human opinion that freedom of speech gives us, Americans would live in an age of “accept the government, or die.” » The freedom to petition is another essential part of the First Amendment available to Americans. In 1984, there was talk of a resistance that would one day take power and free Oceania from corruption. If many people had joined this so-called "resistance", it could create a "petition" to stop the government. This was not available to the citizens of Oceania, as no freedom was offered to them. In the United States, since January 15, 2013, if a petition collects at least 100,000 signatures, the White House sends back a response. If there is a very important issue that needs to be brought to the top of government, people will sign the petition. Without this right, many problems would go unnoticed and poor and reckless decisions would be made. There can't be a vote on these issues because the vote would happen too often and people wouldn't bother to go. Other countries don't have the ability to go online and sign a petition that they think should be presented to their government. This option gives Americans individuality on the condition that they do not take the actions they talk about in meetings. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The First Amendment entitles American citizens to freedom of speech, religion, press, petition, and assembly. Self-obliteration is not present in American society because the First Amendment protects us from it. We live in an age where citizens can say and believe almost anything that comes to mind, without the risk of being punished by the law. America is a free country and with the First Amendment in place, we are assured of our individuality..