Kids Are Americans Too by Bill O'Reilly Read Free Book Online

offering bling.
    Remember, all of these lyrics are copyrighted.
    (That’s my right!)
    This means you!
    I’m not going into all of the gazillion messes that can occur when you download something, because you already know about the ones that affect your life.
    But if you feel that you have the right to download a song for free because…well, because why, kid?
    Okay, you want to argue that the music industry is a big monster that charges you too much, or something like that. I see your point. But what about that singer or band you like so much? They shouldn’t make any money for their work? They should entertain you, and whomever you share the file with, for free? They don’t have the right to get something for what they’ve created for you?
    You know what I’m saying. And what about people who write books? (Ahem.) Or make movies? Music, words, pictures—these can all be used to invent fantasy worlds, but you really have the wrong fantasy about life if you don’t realize that entertainment and information reach you because people work very, very hard. That’s how I see it, anyway.
    Whatever your opinion, this whole thing is going to be a very large part of your life. It’s going to be one of the hottest debates about rights for your future in America. Just think about it in those terms, okay?

    ASK O’REILLY! (A Special Feature)
    You: I want to wear a T-shirt at school that says SAVE THE MANATEES!
    O’Reilly: That’s a nice thought.
    You: You bet it is! But my principal says it’s a political slogan, and if he allows one, he has to allow all of the others.
    O’Reilly: And some of those can get pretty rough…
    You: So what? Don’t I have the right to express myself in a decent way? Anyway, what would happen if I took the school to court and said the principal was denying my rights under the First Amendment?
    O’Reilly: I dunno.
    You: You dunno?
    O’Reilly: (rolling eyes) Look, let’s skip the next bit, okay? We’ll cut to the chase…See, I don’t know the judges who are sitting on the court in your state…Haven’t heard anything about them, or what they think, or what decisions they’ve made in the past.
    You: But this is a matter of law!
    O’Reilly: (smiles sagely)
    You: Well, isn’t it?
    O’Reilly: (smiles even more sagely)
    You: Okay, I think I get it…Laws are made by human beings.
    O’Reilly: And?
    You: They’re also interpreted by human beings.
    O’Reilly: And so…?
    You: Well, even though I think it’s clearly freedom of speech for me to wear a T-shirt that expresses my view, my right under the Constitution…

    Does this pass the dress code?
    O’Reilly: Even so, some judges might agree with you. Others might not.
    You: This could make me dizzy.
    O’Reilly: Watch my program. You’ll meet quite a few people—on all sides of the issues—who are confused by this stuff. I mean, they’re nuts! But you can figure it out. I have faith.
    You: Really?
    O’Reilly: Really. You just have to keep your head,learn the rules and how they work, seek sane advice, and try to make sense of the arguments on the other side. Why is your principal so stubborn about the T-shirt? Understand his side—
    You: But I want to wear the—
    O’Reilly: Hey! I didn’t say “agree” with his point of view. Understand where he’s coming from. Then maybe you can make your view understandable to him. Maybe you can even persuade him.
    You: You think I could win that argument?
    O’Reilly: I dunno.
    You: Okay, okay, I get it.
    O’Reilly: See?
    HIGH IDEALS?
    But it’s never that simple.
    Did you hear the story about the kid who thought it was his right of free speech to put up a fourteen-foot-long banner reading BONG HITS 4 JESUS ? I’m not making this up. (Uh, if you’re exceptionally innocent, maybe I should explain that the phrase has to dowith