Freedom of Speech Report
The purpose of this report is to identify how “Freedom of Speech” can affect people and inform how the freedom of speech movement started. The questions that I want to answer is how the freedom of speech movement started, how people are affected by freedom of speech online and how freedom of speech affects a society. Freedom of speech has played a major role in history and has been important to the building of our society. There have been many different ways people have taken freedom of speech to the extreme and this is intended to ask ourselves the importance of these free speeches.
The first question I want to answer is how the freedom of speech movement started. This movement started in the 1960s at the University of California. Students were not allowed to fundraise for non campus causes on campus, only for the republican or democratic political parties. A student named Jack Weinberg defied this ban by raising support for the civil rights movement until a policeman asked for identification. He refused to show his identification, then was arrested. Students reacted by mobbing the police car and had a 3 day protest before the police arrested nearly 800 people. This raised a lot of attention through the media and gave a good ground for the freedom of speech movement start. A couple of students who participated in the protest ended up founding the International Socialists, an organisation that tries to resolve freedom of speech issues.
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Despite their opinions, free speech was a great way in this situation for students to rally together and publically inform the rest of campus of their beliefs. In the school newspaper, The Daily Emerald, CJ Ciaramelle wrote “About 300 students from across the campus community — student unions, Greek Life, the ASUO, the Survival Center, the Women’s Center — showed up at the meeting to protest the Forum” (1). Although the majority of people protested against the forum the right to free speech, it is important because it allows students to make decisions on their own and invite students to do the same.
The First Amendment, freedom of speech, has proven to have made a tremendous impact on our history and the course we have taken. Our country has been transformed throughout history to appreciate the different cultures, religions, and traditions; from a simple act as speaking up to what we think is right we have seen our nation grow and prosper. As citizens, we are entitled to express our opinions and this right must be respected. However, we have taken advantage of this amendment. Nowadays, freedom of speech has become more destructive than supportive. Freedom of speech means giving everyone a chance to speak up; this does not give us the right to harm other individuals.
Many people come to the United States looking for freedom and liberty and where their essential rights are protected under the Constitution. However, freedom should not be taken for granted as for every rule there may be limits. The First Amendment of the United States’ Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” (Corwin 48). In other words, the First Amendment granted freedom of religion, speech, press, peaceful assembly, and petition. The First Amendment is clear enough for anyone to comprehend and process easily; however, people sometimes misunderstand their rights by doing what their First Amendment right does not protect, especially when it comes to freedom of speech. Seven of the most important law cases in the United States’ history are what shaped the American’s society and allowed people to hopefully know and recognize their limits and restrictions when it comes to their speech whether it was a literal speech or a symbolic speech.
According to the Bill of Rights, we are afforded the freedom of speech through the first amendment. But this awarding of freedom is only allowed if it goes along with what the general population deems “normal”. During the middle part of the 1900’s many books were banned on political, religious, and moral views. While our society has changed these issues are still prevalent in today’s public views and opinions of author’s work. These books are not “normal” and that is why they play an unprecedented part in literature today. Books written in this era had a different political, religious, and moral atmosphere than those written in the modern day; but these same issues arise in today’s society.
Centuries ago in American society, individuals were not granted the free will to act and speak freely. First Amendment rights allowed citizens to do so. On a historical outlook, the oppressed fought for the rights of various groups in the United States. Although laws and situations evolve, groups in America continue to face inequality and issues with freedom of speech. There is room for further improvement; freedom for all citizens needs to be fulfilled. The impression of being free is what gives the United States the ideology of being a part of a democracy. Recent events have revealed issues with freedom of speech and questioning about what kinds of speech is protected. In order to close the gap in
Free speech is a fundamental piece of American society; however, it has become a very controversial idea. In recent years several “free-speech” protests have risen, many breaking out in violence. With all the arguments about free speech erupting in America it is important to keep in mind that the first amendment is very broad, and has very few and very specific limitations; thus, very seldom does an individual person or group have the right to stop another from speaking.
War and rage wrestled with the harmony of freedom, the tear-felt cries of patriots echoed across the vast seas, and glistening, ink strokes wrote the keys to America’s foundation. Our Founding Founders consisted of fifty-five individuals that sought a free republic for the nation’s citizens. These founders wrote and laid the foundational tools that the United States of America still stands on in the twenty-first century. However, over time our government has tampered with the very foundation laid by our Founders, causing our liberties to be placed in jeopardy.
This book goes into depth about the Berkeley Free speech movement. It analyzes and conveys several memories of the FSM. This book is made up of several scholarly articles and personal memoir. The authors reexamine the free speech movement and the impact it made on the 1960s social change. While providing a look back through personal accounts(such as students, faculty members and individuals of where impacted the crisis) and political analyses of the freedom speech movement.
“Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It reinforces all other human rights, allowing society to develop and progress. The ability to express our opinion and speak freely is essential to bring about change in society.” Freedom of Speech grants you the right and privilege to speak your mind without facing any type of consequence . I strongly believe that censorship and the lack of free speech can and will cause a negative effect on our world.
“Some people’s idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they like , but if anyone says anything back , that is an outrage”, according to Sir Winston Churchill. America, the so called place of opportunity and land of freedom purports to be free, but is it really free? In the 1969 court case , Tinker v. Des moines school district , kids were wearing black armbands in protest of the vietnam war. In response ,the school district didn’t allow it and immediately went to court. The court ruled in favor of the children because they were exercising their right of freedom of speech in a nonviolent manner . Freedom of speech is something that is highly debated and refuted. Freedom of speech is something that gives the people a voice and a right to express their concerns and beliefs that help make America a better place. The right of Freedom of speech should not be limited because the people are entitled to their voice,criticisms and opinions should be expressed freely, and rebelling anyone's rights are
With varying opinions and beliefs, our society needs to have unlimited freedom to speak about any and everything that concerns us in order to continually improve our society. Those free speech variables would be speech that creates a positive, and not negative, scenario in both long-terms and short-terms. Dictionary.com defines Freedom of Speech as, “the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc.” Freedom of speech is also known as free speech or freedom of expression. Freedom of speech is also known as freedom of expression because a person’s beliefs and thoughts can also be expressed in other
Let’s face it- today, the sensitivity of America has reached its peak. Any individual with an opinion that deviates from the norm is thrown into the social blender, scrutinized, and bashed into a pulp by all others. Express a liberal viewpoint in a room full of Republicans and suddenly you’re an ass. Express a Republican viewpoint in a room full of liberals and suddenly you’re the elephant in the room. At a time like this, you must filter your every move. If you draw a picture of Mohammad or express your anti-gay marriage viewpoint or- god forbid- wear a T-shirt with GIRLS on it, you are an immediate target for an onslaught of criticism at the societal level. How dare you practice the American right to free speech! Did you really think
No matter how fervently someone believes in the justice of his cause, suppression of the free exchange of ideas is failure at best or downright wrong. The power or might behind an idea does not make the idea right. Many powerful people throughout history have been wrong. Few people, if any, would judge "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" to be subversive or wrong. In 1939 Ambassador Kennedy was so caught up in the fears of the times that he was willing to use the power of his money to protect the world against a film. When people are caught up in the movements of their time, all people must be extra zealous to guard and encourage freedom of expression. Otherwise, a mob mentality reigns, and people
“Do you know where here is? Here is the ELI, if you want to speak Chinese, please go out.” Can you think of Mr. Cranker and the English Only Policy while seeing these kinds of sentences? He always uses a gentle intonation to say these words and repeats them thousands of times with endless patience day by day in the hall. Actually, speaking English in the ELI is non-negotiable and responsible; furthermore, this policy enables students to learn English more effectively and efficiently regardless of subduing foreign students’ freedom of speech. This Policy is a great paradigm of overturning the freedom of speech somewhat; moreover, society cannot be regulated with one hundred percent freedom until the world can become safe and sound
Freedom of expression, and open access to media, are as fundamental to the survival of Progress as the sun and rain are to the survival of planet Earth. Yet censorship remains a traditional response of any group that finds itself offended at another's message or creative indulgence.