Harm Principle Argument Analysis

In “American Flag Stands for Tolerance” the people believe the burning of the flag is protected by the First Amendment while others thought the flag is a cherished symbol and people who burn flags should be punished. When the flag is burned the people conflict with each other and the case is close, “In a controversial decision, the Supreme Court, by the closest possible margin of a 5-to-4 vote” (Allen 1-2). The case comes to a close and the burning of the flag is now protected by the First Amendment. Following the case there was still scepticism because the people view the flag as a cherished symbol like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution and burning the flag would be like burning either

This brought on the Supreme Court striking down all laws banning flag desecration in 1989. Justice Brennan wrote “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that Government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable (civilliberty website, n.d) One cannot simply ban or outlaw a person’s right to exercise their ideas publically because it goes against the majority or popular belief. Taking away ones freedom of speech, you then take away the voice of a nation. You don’t have to always agree with the words, ideas or views someone expresses but you must give them the right to say it without repercussions. We recite the pledge of allegiance, not fully understanding what it means. The last section of the pledge states “with liberty and justice for all”. (UsFlag.org, n.d) Which means, the freedom to live, speak and to carry on without fear or injustice. No matter the race, gender or ethnicity George Washington said it best, “if the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”(Washington, n.d line 31 ) This nation was built upon principles that we are all free. Free to live and exercise our rights to speak freely and protest as citizens without fear. The Constitution also allows one to peacefully

Both letter to the editor and editorial staff offer position that are supported by both facts and opinions. The letter explores to urges the new reusable bag ordinance while the editorial staff argues that they are serious about making Proposition 328 mandatory in every store. While both side make an acceptable case, it is clear that the letter provides a better argument.

John Stuart Mill discusses the conception of liberty in many ways. I’d like to focus of his ideas of the harm principle and a touch a little on his thoughts about the freedom of action. The harm principle and freedom on action are just two subtopics of Mill’s extensive thoughts about the conception on liberty. Not only do I plan to discuss and explain each of these parts on the conception of liberty, but I also plan to discuss my thoughts and feelings. I have a few disagreements with Mill on the harm principle; they will be stated and explained. My thoughts and feelings on Mill vary but I’d like to share my negative opinion towards the principle and hope to put it in a different perspective.

The United States is well-known for its principles of freedom and democracy, which is demonstrated through the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause. Thus, American citizens can openly discuss political matters; criticize the President and his Cabinet on television, radio talk show or in the newspaper; or publicly protest against the government tax policy. However, Free Speech protection becomes debatable when some American citizens burn the nation’s flag to express their disagreement to the government. The act of burning the American Flag should be constitutionally protected under the First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause because the act is a symbolic expression that communicates an individual’s idea or opinion about his nation; and that

The first amendment, as written in the constitution, forbids the abridgement of “speech”, but we have not taken upon the writing that it spreads past spoken and written. Any citizen has the wright to use his or her form of “speech” in his or way of choosing. These forms can be in words, or written down on paper. These ways of speech can also be used in actions, and these actions can express an idea of language as well. When Johnson decided to burn the American flag, he was using his form of speech to get his point across to the new president. When the state came after him, they were in the wrong because of this amendment. Because of this, it was

personal liberties shall be protected as long as they do not cause reasonable harm to another individual. It is incredibly difficult and unjust to promote a system to which state authority prevents speech that they find offensive. It is nearly impossible and impractical for a state entity to understand what can and can’t be considered offensive, and what is offensive to some and not to others. That is why the harm principle is a great principle to understand the limits of how far free speech should and can go. Free speech should be protected and promoted so long as it does not create credible harm to another persons individual liberties. Credible and reasonable harm should thus be defined as harm that occurs to ones idnivual liberties including: life, liberty, and property. For example Looking at the confederate flag, one can see the conflict of harm versus free speech it imposes. The idea of the original confederate flag did stand as symbol of racism and pro-slavery. The confederate flag was in its due time flown as a symbol of war and a threat against those who do not stand by the principles of the confederation. During the civil war the confederate flag could very legitimately be seen as a harmful form of free speech. However in present day, the confederate flag, for the most part does not carry the same meaning or same threat. Many people, who express themselves through the confederate flag as a symbol, do so as a form of showing southern pride or southern heritage.

Mill uses the Harm Principle to identify his argument for freedom of speech. The Harm Principle explains that the government are only justified in interfering with individuals who express their views if only their views cause harm to others. If a person’s actions only affect himself, then society, which includes the government should not be able to stop a person from doing what he wants. Three ideas helped shape the harm principle. The first idea, Mill states that the harm principle is composed of the liberty of expressing and publishing opinions as being important as the liberty of thought, which

To start, Obama is contemplating with the issue about the Confederate Flag. His way of dealing with the angulations against the Confederate Flag is to pass a bill, through Congress, stating the banishment of the Confederate Flag. According to the quote from Obama himself, “… President Obama… announced that he was signed into law an executive order banning the manufacturing, distribution, and possession, of Confederate Flag and memorabilia…” (“Obama Signs Order”. Par 1). Accordance to these gestures, is the idea that we, as a nation, have to go through a point in which, we have to ban American history, due to the reasons that our past are coming back into the present and causing unnecessary promotions. This, indeed, is causing our nation, as a whole, to lose some of our values. Secondly, after the Civil war, there was a time in which our country grew from the dark days from segregation and inequality into a better environment for everyone, but, according to the people in South Carolina, these are apparently to be prohibited. According to Obama, We are the people who united this land through equality, therefore, no one should be a target from any organization that will cause harm to them. This is in violation of the 3 rights everyone born in the U.S. has; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (“Obama Signs Order”. Par 2-4). Under this land, we are to be united as one and remain as one as long as whom shall live. In accommodations with the Confederate Flag, America and the people within, are losing values and inanity due to the actions perceived by and with the Confederate Flag. What, honestly, is satisfying about flying the Confederate Flag? The Confederate Flag represents a time in which other people owned other people and where there was no equality. This flag is reminiscing what life was before civil rights. Flying this flag shows that the thought of slavery was okay

To start, Obama is contemplating with the issue about the Confederate Flag. His way of dealing with the angulations against the Confederate Flag is to pass a bill, through Congress, stating the banishment of the Confederate Flag. According to the quote from Obama himself, “… President Obama… announced that he was signed into law an executive order banning the manufacturing, distribution, and possession, of Confederate Flag and memorabilia…” (“Obama Signs Order”. Par 1). Accordance to these gestures, is the idea that we, as a nation, have to go through a point in which, we have to ban American history, due to the reasons that our past are coming back into the present and causing unnecessary promotions. This, indeed, is causing our nation, as a whole, to lose some of our values. Secondly, after the Civil war, there was a time in which our country grew from the dark days from segregation and inequality into a better environment for everyone, but, according to the people in South Carolina, these are apparently to be prohibited. According to Obama, We are the people who united this land through equality, therefore, no one should be a target from any organization that will cause harm to them. This is in violation of the 3 rights everyone born in the U.S. has; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (“Obama Signs Order”. Par 2-4). Under this land, we are to be united as one and remain as one as long as whom shall live. In accommodations with the Confederate Flag, America and the people within, are losing values and inanity due to the actions perceived by and with the Confederate Flag. What, honestly, is satisfying about flying the Confederate Flag? The Confederate Flag represents a time in which other people owned other people and where there was no equality. This flag is reminiscing what life was before civil rights. Flying this flag shows that the thought of slavery was okay

Is it okay to burn the American flag? In The American Flag Stand for Tolerance It gives reason to why it is okay to burn and why it isn’t. In the story it mentions that It should be okay to burn the flag when the government has done something that is bad. But the story also cites the first amendment stating that you should be able to express your opinion as long as it doesn’t become physical. In war the flag stayed up the entire time and never came down and that shows that burning the flag can also show tolerance because the flag has been through much worse and has never came down. But burning it can also lead you into trouble because people can get the wrong idea such as the law. Overall I feel people spreading their opinion on government

Does American Flag discriminate other people why or why not? On page three line two “A person has a right to express disagreement with governmental policies by burning the American flag. The next piece of evidence, On page two the caption says Dallas police arrest Gregory Lee Johnson for burning an American flag outside the 1984 Republican National Convention. Gregory Lee Johnson started a court case cause he burned an American flag. So he was treated for burning the American flag.

In light of recent events, debate has sprung out over the implications of the Confederate States of America’s battle flag. One side strongly argues that it is a sign of intolerance, racism, and hatred. The other strongly disagrees that it is a sign of southern pride, heritage, and states’ rights. The rebel flag is often misconstrued as something hateful, but it still represented a system relying on slave labor and a confederacy that was against the union. The flag shouldn’t be used on official government facilities, but should still be available to the public as a way of exercising free speech rights.

A first example of this is “Each individual is to have the freedom to develop by his or her own lights, and not by the command of officialdom.” (pg 18 and 19, lines 28 - 30) Furthermore, “At the core of what the flag symbolizes, then, is tolerance. More than anything else the flag stands for free expression of ideas, no matter how distasteful.” (pg 20, lines 28 - 30) Society is more accepting toward the burning of the American Flag because Johnson’s act, represents our right of freedom of expression. Allen’s views on acceptance relates to the quote, “We, as human beings, must be willing to accept people who are different from ourselves”, (Jordan pg 1) by explaining that the American Flag is why our differences can be

“At what point do we take personal attacks, and permit those, as opposed to -- I fully accept you’re entitled, in some circumstances, to speak about any political issue you want. But where is the line between doing that, and creating hardship for an individual?” –Justice Sonia Sotomayor. In the case of Snyder V. Phelps, Two very passionate sides debated just that. The Snyder family accused Phelps, or Westboro, of the tort claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, after Westboro picketed Phelps’ son’s funeral. Westboro disputed this, claiming their protests were protected under The First Amendment.