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Freedom Of Speech According To The Bill Of Rights

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Freedom of speech has been part of a controversial debate for many decades. Whether or not limitations should be placed on people’s freedom to voice their opinions has become a compelling discussion. The fact is that people feel that they have the right to full freedom of speech under the first Amendment. But the dangers of speaking ones mind did not present itself when the first Amendment was first created and now more than ever many view their freedom to speak as a tool to hurt others. So there should be limits on our freedom of speech because actions may speak louder than words but words have the power to hurt more.

People have always valued their right to speak their mind. According to The Bill of Rights Institute, the Bill …show more content…

When the Bill of Rights was first passed it was intended to protect individual rights so that Congress couldn’t freely make laws that hurt the citizens of a state. The first Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” putting a limit on government power but when our founding fathers were creating the Bill of Rights they did not realize what giving the people full freedom to speak meant. Years later when America was vulnerable to a war with France people started speaking out in favor of the French so in 1798 President John Adams passed the Sedition Act. According to the Constitutional Rights Foundation, the Sedition Act was “a law restricting freedom of speech” because at that time they needed the people to stop going against the government and trust them to protect their rights but instead the people started speaking out in a harsh …show more content…

In actuality it should be encouraged so that people don’t bottle up their feelings. People need to express their opinions otherwise we would all listen to one person and not think for ourselves. But then you have those who speak with no filter; those who spit out words just to see someone crumble to the ground; those who we call bullies. According to Loyola University Chicago “The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of expression” yet we see how this guaranteed freedom often leads “to dire consequences, such as grief-induced suicides.” Since the beginning of time we’ve had people who would misuse their freedom of speech by judging others out loud with no shame but instead a feeling of pride and they defend themselves by saying that they have the right to say what they want, when they want. These people know nothing of the person they are laughing at or pushing around, they just feel they can so they will. For example, in the Scarlet Letter by Nathanial Hawthorne, when Hester was released from prison the women in the crowd yelled to each other (page 61) “Why, gossips, what is it but to laugh in the faces of our godly magistrates, and make a pride out of what they, worthy gentlemen, meant for a punishment?” The women in the crowd judged her by how perfect she made the Scarlet Letter look and shouted to each other how the letter is not enough of a punishment. They called her names and judge her sin yet

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