The Importance Of Free Speech

According to “Freedom of Speech” by Gerald Leinwand, Abraham Lincoln once asked, “Must a government, of necessity, be too strong for the liberties of its people, or too weak to maintain its own existence (7)?” This question is particularly appropriate when considering what is perhaps the most sacred of all our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, freedom of expression. Lincoln knew well the potential dangers of expression, having steered the Union through the bitterly divisive Civil War, but he held the Constitution dear enough to protect its promises whenever possible (8).

This year’s election alone has brought about many emotions and deep rooted feelings that have not come out in years. Hate speech and actions carried out because of hate speech has cause a deep division in American culture. Groups like “Black Lives Matter”, “All Lives Matter”, and “Alt-Right” are all under fire for things that have been said or done in the names of these groups. There has been terrorist attacks in the names of religious groups whom believe that a newspaper or group has insulted their religion, beliefs, and gods. Not to mention our own President Elect of the United States, Donald Trump, has been accused of fueling much of the hate speech we see today. This begs the question, should freedom of speech have any restrictions or be limited in any way, or is that unconstitutional? To look at this we must first identify what “Freedom of Speech” is as defined in the constitution and how it relates to current issues in the world and in America, then I will talk about some situations where regulation is already put in place in America, lastly we will look at some situations where I believe freedom of speech could use some clarification or restriction.

1. The measure of a great society is the ability of its citizens to tolerate the viewpoints of those with whom they disagree. As Voltaire once said, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” (Columbia). This right to express one's opinion can be characterized as “freedom of speech.” The concept of “freedom of speech” is a Constitutional right in the United States, guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution:

America’s first president George Washington once argued at the [whenever he said this] that “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” It is an essential component to the daily life of any constitutional republic, such as that of the United States even though it is a right granted to all American citizens, in the past, freedom of speech has been abridged to accommodate political correctness, to prevent disruptive behavior that could negatively affect others, and to protect confidential military information.

Even in the early stages of American history there was an urge to put legally protected freedoms into written government documents. The result was the drafting of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, by James Madison. The applications of the personal freedoms described in the Bill of Rights, particularly the freedom of speech, have been challenged repeatedly in American courts of law and elsewhere. These incidents and challenges of authority reflect the defensive American attitude toward the ever-important freedom of expression and the growing significance of personal rights throughout American history.

Back in the year of 1791, when our grand country was at the tender age of fifteen, two gentlemen gathered together to form a written document that would protect their newly attained freedom. These written principles, later know as the Bill of Rights, were penned primarily by George Mason and James Madison. The Founding Fathers of the American public’s home country. It is interesting to note that not only were these two men the authors of Bill of Rights but were also successful in their own careers too. George Mason, a prospering planter in the state of Virginia and James Madison a graduate of the College of New Jersey, known as present day Princeton. Madison was a lawyer by trade, but was driven with a profound interest in ministry. They came together to compose one of the greatest treasures in the nation’s history: the Bill of Rights. In this written expository, this author will be discussing the first of the ten of these amendments: the amendment that guarantees Americans the freedom of Speech. The necessity of free speech and the important values it contains is a main foundation for this country, therefore, Rosenblatt 's argument for the freedom of “expression” is valid because it certifies our right to speak freely, form an opinion, and exercise the correct function of democracy while on American soil.

The freedom of speech has never been free to everyone. Many Americans grow up with this saying and feel it to be true. Suzanne Nossel wrote her article “How we communicate is changing. So should the way we think about free speech”, published in August of 2017 in The Washington Post, and she argues that “students who seek to shut down speech that offends - through calls to disinvite speakers, punish offensive remarks or shout down opponents - have been dismissed as coddled, unenlightened, entitled, anti-intellectual, dogmatic and infantile.” (Nossel, 2017, p. 1). Nossel builds her credibility with facts and reputable sources, citing convincing facts and statistics, and successfully employing emotional appeals.

Freedom of speech has been a controversial issue throughout the world. Our ability to say whatever we want is very important to us as individuals and communities. Although freedom of speech and expression may sometimes be offensive to other people, it is still everyone’s right to express his/her opinion under the American constitution which states that “congress shall make no law

Derek Bok argues that American dedication to democracy is embodied in the Frist Amendment and that the freedoms granted in this Amendment are the building blocks of dialogues that contribute to cohesive communities born out of differences. The problem, however, according to Bok, is the difficulty of balancing the protection of these freedoms on campuses and universities where reasoned expression of diverse ideas is encouraged. Bok offers the suggestion that rather than attempt to stifle expression by imposing penalties for what might be considered offensive speech, “speak with those who perform insensitive acts and try to help them understand the effects of their action on others” (69). While this suggestion might imply a reasoned and

The United States Constitution grants American citizens the freedom of speech. This single line in the First Amendment has been a staple of American culture since its ratification on December 15, 1791 (Constitution Center, 2018). The Founders recognized the significance of this freedom and the power it had to shape a young nation. It was George Washington who declared-“If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter” (Global Research, 2016). The legal definition of this vision is “the right to express information, ideas, and opinions- free of government restrictions based on content and subject only to reasonable limitations” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). This sole clause has been the subject

America’s history is filled with constant arguing, debating, and bickering. Because America is so diverse and full of people with differing opinions, it is important that everyone is given a voice. The Bill of Rights is opened with the 1st amendment, which consists of the freedom of speech, religion, petition, press, and assembly. These are the cornerstones of American society, and the freedom to assemble has guided America to where it is today. This promise was a direct response to many events in colonial America, has been defended in court as shown is the case of the Village of Skokie vs. the National Socialist Party, and was pushed to its limit at the White Nationalist Rally in Charlottesville, yet the persistence of this right proves how controversy succumbs to the freedom of expression.

“Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” (“The Bill of Rights: A Transcription). Arguably one of the most important amendments, the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is generally summarized as protecting the rights of each citizen to Freedom of Expression. While it may be one of the core values of American society, one’s right to Freedom of Expression has become involved in a debate that rages on in the modern day. The First Amendment has become one of the main supports for the argument against the Political Correctness Movement, which has been growing and gaining more influence over the years. Many feel that this controversial movement, which puts an emphasis on removing or changing language and behavior that could be considered offensive, stands in direct opposition to the First Amendment. Proponents of the Political Correctness Movement argue that there is no conflict between Political Correctness and Freedom of Expression. There is no dispute, however, that this debate has had an influence on many different parts of society. From politics to academics, to media, to business, and even to casual conversation, this debate is virtually

Throughout American history, limitations on Free Speech have become a highly controversial topic, that have resulted in numerous landmark Supreme Court cases. Freedom of Speech is a fundamental right bestowed to all Americans by the First Amendment. In 1791, after much discussion and disputes, Antifederalists were successful in adopting the first ten amendments, known as the “Bill of Rights” to the Constitution. Antifederalists eagerly fought for the Bill of Rights to be included within the Constitution because they feared the Federal Government would grow too powerful, similar to a totalitarian or dictatorship form of leadership after prior experience with the British King. Due to the Constitution is a living document, various alterations and amendments have been added, which reflect the time period and society as a whole.

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire.  The freedom of speech is an American right in which the foundation of Democracy lies. Freedom of Speech has an impact on Americans lives and people should do their utmost to protect it. For this purpose of protecting freedom of speech Katherine Ho wrote the article “The Role of Provocative Speech”, published February of 2016. This article was written with the purpose of informing Harvard students about the free speech controversy and reasons they should protect it. Katherine Ho is the campus associate editor of the Harvard Political Review who had the goal of informing the students at the University to

In his novel, “The Professor at The Breakfast-Table,” Oliver Wendell Holmes states, “The very aim and end of our institutions is just this: we may think what we like and say what we think” (Holmes 118). If taken in the correct context, this quotation leads the reader to assume that Holmes believes that even though our institutions aim to allow freedom of thinking and speech, it will be that freedom that will end such rights at those institutions. The novel, written in 1860, is very applicable to today’s freedom of speech issues. With the rise of millennials speaking out about current views, the government is looking to shut down the rights of free speech. When government does not agree with or want to hear what the people say, instead of working on a compromise, they want to use their power to shut them up. Holmes unfortunately predicted exactly what is occurring now, where free speech is no longer free, and our institution that was built on free speech is now faltering.