Freedom, equality, independence, and righteousness are common terms associated with the beautiful country of America. Many immigrants and foreigners have embarked on the journey to reach the beautiful valleys and gardens of a country built on values such as unity and individualism. The statue of Liberty, alone, is the universal symbol for freedom which stands in the heart of New York City greeting thousands of immigrants each year; embodying hope and opportunity for those seeking a better life in America. It stirs the desire for freedom in people all over the world; Muslims in Burma who fall under the threat of extortion, women in Egypt who are not given a voice, or people in South Africa who struggle to live because of ensuing rivalry battles. The United States is a safe haven on its own to millions across the world who are subjected to tyranny or despotism. If America is a place for opportunity and freedom to practice our own rights, then why should our institutions ban such an important emblem like freedom of speech? A quality so inherently important that molds the thoughts and personalities of our own students; the future of America. If our students are subjected to live in fear like the rest of the world, then how is America distinct from the oppressors and wrongdoers? How will our nation's colleges and universities fuel the curiosities of future healers and entrepreneurs without letting them question the status quo and think freely? In all of our years in school, we, as students have been taught to ask questions and expand our thinking. There are no such thing as stupid questions and we have grasped the idea of self- expression. Students , being teenagers, are the most unstable and emotional of the human subspecies and fin... ... middle of paper ... ...eges were to abide by the first amendment of the Constitution, they would discover the different pitches and tones that accompany each voice. Instead, some colleges put a ban on what students say or wear. We are no longer in the age of McCarthyism where every aspect of society needs to be censored. Donna Shalala, owner of a Presidential Medal of Freedom, once said " You can't have a university without having free speech, even though at times it makes us terribly uncomfortable. If students are not going to hear controversial ideas on college campuses, they're not going to hear them in America. I believe it's part of their education". I agree with Ms. Shalala, America is a country built on strong principles like individualism. Free speech constitutes individualism. Free speech is a right; not a privilege and colleges have no right to restrict the power of thought.
This is just down right wrong because it’s unwarranted to give the right to do such a thing to schools and not to government. Thesis Schools have more rights than the government to affect and restrict the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech. Annotated Bibliography Hudson, David L., JR. " First Amendment Center. "
It is probable that the administration in taking away the student’s political frontline were only aiming to subdue the civil rights movement. However the effect of banning everyone from speaking their mind had an effect unforeseen by those in charge. Students from all backgrounds and schools of political thought were united; students that under any other circumstance never would have come together. This is what made the free-speech movement unique; it was a merger of forces across the political front, only possible because the matters at stake transcended political orientation.
"Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is life itself." The basic rights guaranteed to Americans in the Bill of Rights is what holds the United States together. When Salman Rushdie wrote Guardian, he knew this. Unfortunately, the majority of congress and the President himself have forgotten the basic rights of Americans. When President William J. Clinton signed the Communications Decency Act that was proposed but the 104th Congress, he severely limited the rights of Americans on the Internet. The internet, just like books, magazines, artwork, and newspapers, should not be censored.
And even though the First Amendment grants us the freedom of speech, including such hate speech, there are limits. The federal and all state governments, including public colleges and universities and private schools that accept federal financial aid, cannot unnecessarily regulate speech, with the following exceptions: “obscenity, figh...
When America experiences some great trauma, our freedom of speech often faces its own trauma. Across the country, people are expressing opinions unpopular with American culture post. September 11 th. In Colorado, school officials demonstrate the new rush to suppress any un-American sentiment by “forcing a student to remove an upside down American flag sewn on the seat of her jeans [calling it] an obscene insult to Americanism” (Leo). Blinded by their patriotism, these school officials disregarded the student’s first amendment rights.
How much we valuse the right of free speech is out to its severest test when the speaker is someone we disagree with most. Speech that deeply offends our morality or is hostile to our way of life promises the same constitutional protection as other speech because the right of free speech is indivisible: When one of us is denied this right, all of us are denied. Where racist, sexist and homphobic speech is concerned, I believe that more speech - not less - is the best revenge. This is particualrly true at universities, whose mission is to facilitate learning through open debate and study, and to enlighten. Speech codes are not the way to go on campuses, where all views are entitled to be heard, explored, supported or refuted. Besides, when hate is out in the open, people can see the problem. They can organize effectively to encounter bad attitudes, possibly to change them, and imitate togetherness against the forces of intolerance.
This occurs even when the regulations arent enforced souly because they fear being punished for what they may say. As shown in Silverglate and Lukianoffs essay, some campuses go to great extents when giving students permission to give free speeches. They claim that “as long as the policy exists, the threat of enfocement remains real and will inevitably influence some peoples speech” (636). This is a valid argument because they then proceed by saying that The First Amendment calls it a clinging effect. Another effect of these regulations would be that colleges are teaching their students that their opinions and beliefs should not be shared when they are even slightly controversial. Wasserman argues that word choice is an “essential component of free-speech protection”(640) because they allow one to express him or herself
On the other hand, students have the right to speak out for what they believe in without having any interference; they have the right to voice their opinion. This protection is all due to the first amendment protection. The first amendment protects the students and also the teachers’ freedom of speech, that includes during and out of school. With the protection of the first amendment no person is able to violate your right to freedom of speech. Any pers...
In the United States, free speech is protected by the First Amendment in which it states, “Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion … or abridging the freedom of speech.” Now, nearly 250 years into the future, the exact thing that the Founding Fathers were afraid of is starting to happen. Today, our freedom of speech is being threatened through different forces, such as the tyranny of the majority, the protection of the minority, and the stability of the society. Now, colleges and universities in the United States today are also trying to institute a code upon its students that would bar them from exercising their right to speak freely in the name of protecting minorities from getting bullied. This brings us into
There is no other government in the world that gives freedom to the people like the United States of America. In the last sixty years, American courts, have made a set of legal doctrines that protect all forms of the freedom of expression.
Throughout American history, schools have always limited students from expressing themselves. That was until the twentieth century when people started to question the ambiguity of limitations of scholars. Monumental court cases such as West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette proved that saluting the American Flag conflicted with some students’ religion. Rights and freedoms are the foundation of America and should not be severely censored within public schools. In Article IV, Section 2, Paragraph 1 of the United States Constitution, the do...
Many Universities around the country, especially Ivy league schools, are dealing with students and faculty repressing other’s freedom of speech. However, they aren't the only ones. Many journalism outlets such as Fox News, MSNBC, and Rush Limbaugh act the same way. This is due to the conflicting ideologies that party’s side with. Michael Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York, has discussed this topic and his ideology. I believe that a citizens speech shouldn't be repressed based on the principles of respect, constructive criticism, and neutrality. As the founding fathers debated the constitution of the United States, we must work together as a whole to create a greater way of life for everyone.
Everyone in the United States according to the US Constitution has freedom of speech and is allowed to be vocal on their thoughts and ideas. Having the constitutional right to communicate one’s opinions and ideas without having to worry about any censorship or the government getting involved in most instances, all fall under a part of the First Amendment in the United States. This part allows each citizen to have the right to freedom of speech and expression. Not only is this freedom a part of the Constitution of the United States, but it makes up everyday life by allowing each and every one to be diverse in their own unique way. Allowing individuals the opportunities to express themselves the way that they want to, creates self-fulfillment and allows those to advance their knowledge with others ideas as well as
The smell of freshly trimmed grass pervades the quad on campus while walking to a 9am class. A few birds spring from the winding pathways onto tall trees craning over bustling students. Flowers are beginning to bloom, and while on this stroll at a college that students are so proud of attending, something disrupts the tranquility. Screams and yells come from a group of raging students; trying to get past the rowdy crowd, they shove their opinions down your throat. But this is just another day at school that is becoming too familiar. As time goes on, free speech proves to be more disruptive than affective on college campuses.
Students claim that requiring them to wear mandated uniforms deprives them of their ability to freely express themselves through their choice of dress. However, freedom of expression does consist of the rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and to petition the government, but the first amendment does not grant people the right to act any way they want without actions taken. Numerous schools have a straightforward dress code policy enforced. If these policies are violated, then the students could face consequences for their