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The Influence Of Speech: Drawing The Line On Hate Speech

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Drawing the Line on Hate Speech The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States clearly dictates the protection of our right to the freedom of speech. As Americans, we have the specific right to think, speak, and protest as we please, and with this, there is no exception to hate speech under the first amendment; Hateful ideas are just as relevant as any others. One is free to censure Christianity, Islam, Judaism, whites, blacks, or Asians, just as one is free to censure Conservatives or Democrats or Capitalism or Communism. Hate speech, by definition, is communication that carries no meaning other than the expression of hatred towards another group (US Legal). It can be a provocation towards any ideology, race, gender, and singularity that defines a certain group of people, as well as being in any form of expression. What does the Constitution have to say about hate speech? The short answer is that the First Amendment prohibits the government from regulating such speech altogether:
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 …show more content…

Words do carry weight, and have a sense of power towards people. In words can sway people to do malicious acts towards one another, or even commit the most heinous of crimes. One solution is that the First Amendment creates an open forum for everyone to participate in. Anyone has the right to discuss any topic they please, and those who are active in the forum are able to pick and choose the things that they listen to and whether they are truthful and have any real bearing. Furthermore, the role of the government, when it comes to expression and speech, should be one that is totally neutral; it must keep itself out of all social

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