Summary and Response of Susan Jacoby's essay "A First Amendment Junkie"

In well-known feminist writer Susan Jacoby’s essay “A First Amendment Junkie,” she explains her stand on the first amendment issues revolving around the pornography industry in the 1970’s. Jacoby explains that many feminists who are usually strong supporters of the first amendment are actually joining with adversaries of the women’s movement against pornography. Jacoby voices that this is very disturbing to her and anyone who believes in an absolute interpretation of the First Amendment. She supports her argument by addressing the unclear distinction between expression of ideas and conduct, in this case related to “kiddie porn.” She makes it clear that “kiddie porn” is an abuse of power of adults and not an expression of ideas and that those adults should be rightfully prosecuted. Jacoby concludes her essay by saying that defending the First Amendment means defending all forms of free speech even if you don’t necessarily agree with the idea.

            While reading Susan Jacoby’s “A First Amendment Junkie,” I realized that I have been a strong supporter of the First Amendment for many years without really knowing.  I’ve always felt that issues like the ones described in this essay were brought way out of proportion and that people spent way too much time on them. I support and agree with Jacoby when she says that supporters of the first amendment have to support all types of free speech even if they don’t like the ideas being distributed. And so as to not be , I am going to look at any type of free speech with an open mind.

            The issue of abuse of power in Jacoby’s essay is the only thing that I think she could have elaborated more on. Jacoby used the issue of “kiddie porn” as an example but I think there are many more issues regarding the abuse of power in the porn industry. In my opinion, porn only becomes an issue when people are being harmed by it. In other words, the matter of minors or adults being forced into this industry unwillingly and even forced into drugs. It is of my strong belief that porn should be protected by the First Amendment only if all parties involved are voluntary consenting adults with no reliance on drugs that could cloud their judgment.