"The First Amendment has the same role in my life as a citizen and a writer as the sun has in our ecosystem"

The First Amendment is an important part of our democracy and is important to the protection of our rights as citizens and authors. Michael Chabon's quote is an effective reminder of the value of the First Amendment in our lives. Just as the sun is essential to the performance of our ecosystem, the First Amendment is necessary to the performance of our democracy. It permits us to express our opinions freely and without fear of censorship or retribution. It also secures our right to access info and to look for knowledge. Without the First Amendment, our lives as people and authors would be drastically different. It is an essential right that we must continue to secure and value.