I think that you're getting the term "Amendment" confused with "The Bill of Rights," which is the name by which the first ten amendments are known collectively.

An amendment is just that- something that is amended to the constitution. Inherently, it neither discriminates nor protects, it is simply amended.

The Bill of Rights are what gives us our right to assemble, to worship, to say what we want (about the government without fear of reprisal), or to print what we want in the press (again, about the government without fear of reprisal), or to bear arms, or to not incriminate ourselves etc etc.

Though, even there, we see that there are certain things that American's can NOT do- we can't cruelly and unusually punish someone. We cannot be forced to quarter soldiers in our homes in time of war or peace, and that's protecting freedoms too, in a way.

Maybe I've got it all wrong, though, and if I have, feel free to correct me. I'm not Poli Sci guy.

-Rifty