Censorship vs Freedom of Speech

478 Words1 Page

All forms of "expression" should be allowed, whether it's it is in the guise of speech, art, symbolism, or any other form of the freedom granted by the First Amendment. The freedom of speech is one granted by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution. It is in these rights that have let our country and our government becomes as strong and resilient as it is today. It is because of these rights, that we, as a country, have been able to evolve and expand our horizons to what they are today. These rights were the foundation and basis of our country and were also what separated our country from the all the other countries around the world. It was the basis of why the first colonists came to America in the first place. The freedom of speech and expression allowed our forefathers to gather in a small dingy room and put together one of the greatest pieces ever written; the Constitution.

If we were to limit which forms of "expression" should be allowed, we would not only be doing ourselves an injustice, we would also be setting ourselves up for an eventual demise and a disintegration of our values and beliefs. The freedom of speech and expression allows everyone a chance to be able to express and experiment. The very nature of our country rests upon our ability to be able to express ourselves in new and inventive ways. If we were to limit this ability, then production values of what our minds can conceive of are greatly reduced.

The Freedom of speech, under the Bill of Rights, the Constitution states, "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..." Under this amendment of the Constitution many battles have been fought in the Supreme Court over which forms of expression should be allowed. However, many argue that if we are to allow all forms of expression than the American public will be subjected to and assaulted by indecent material. But what constitutes indecency and decency? The Webster dictionary defines the word "Decent" as being characterized by conformity to recognized standards. So the next logical question is, "To whose limit do we set the decency level to?" What may be indecent to one person may be completely normal and allowable to another. The freedom of speech is a recognized standard that the majority of Americans believe in, so with this in mind, it is the people who try to ban our liberty of free speech that are being indecent.

Show More
Related

  • We are Free to Be You, Me, Stupid and Dead by Roger Rosenblatt

    1178 Words  | 3 Pages

    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 respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press”. Although this amendment gave people the right express thier opinions, it still rests in one’s own hands as how far they will go to exercise that right of freedom of speech.

    Read More

  • We Are Free To Be You Me Stupid And Dead Summary

    1357 Words  | 3 Pages

    If limitations are placed on some things, but not others, then it will lead to a great deal of conflict. Freedom of expression is a great thing, however it does come along with a few negative side effects. This including, hateful, ignorant, and rude individuals who do not care what they say. Some want to be able to control these hateful people and restrict what they are permitted to do or say. But, where is the gray line?

    Read More

  • Censorship and Book Banning

    1822 Words  | 4 Pages

    Censorship is a concept with several different meanings. To each individual censorship has its own meaning. Is it a violation of our rights or is it a protection for our well being? Censorship in the generic sense refers to the suppression of information, ideas, or opinions. It occurs in all forms of communication from technological media to print media. Each society, culture, or individual's belief is violated by the codes of censorship that our society instills.

    Read More

  • Censorship, Free Thought, Free Speech

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    "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.

    Read More

  • America's Decline of Freedom of Speech

    1492 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freedom of speech is the right of civilians to openly express their opinions without constant interference by the government. For the last few years, the limitations and regulations on freedom of speech have constantly increased. This right is limited by use of expression to provoke violence or illegal activities, libel and slander, obscene material, and proper setting. These limitations may appear to be justified, however who decides what is obscene and inappropriate or when it is the wrong time or place? To have so many limits and regulations on freedom of speech is somewhat unnecessary. It is understood that some things are not meant to be said in public due to terrorist attacks and other violent acts against our government, but everything should not be seen as a threat. Some people prefer to express themselves angrily or profanely, and as long as it causes no har...

    Read More

  • Censorship in America

    1063 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since this country was founded, we have had a set of unalienable rights that our constitution guarantees us to as Americans. One of the most important rights that is mentioned in our constitution is the right to free speech. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the

    Read More

  • Censorship in Schools

    2166 Words  | 5 Pages

    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).

    Read More

  • Freedom Of Speech

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    Limiting freedom of speech is not a good idea because the pros outweighs the cons. Censorship would not work because there isn’t an individual,

    Read More

  • Censorship In Schools Essay

    1440 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freedom of expression is an inalienable human right and the foundation for self-government. Freedom of expression defines the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, association, and the corollary right to receive information. Human rights and intellectual independence; the two are inseparably linked. Freedom of opinion and determining what you want to read is not

    Read More

  • Negative Essay: Why Censorship Is Harmful To Society

    1036 Words  | 3 Pages

    There cannot be too much free speech, the more the better. Everyone everywhere should always have the right to say whatever they want. People should also be allowed to argue with people whose opinions the dislike. People can stop talking to someone who they consider offensive, they can walk away. Words don’t hurt people, despite the current popular opinion. Free speech should not be limited by anything it should just be free. Some people will say horrible things, but when they say such things to other people, people will think that they are horrible, and not listen to them anymore. Laws against saying certain thing don’t protect anyone, all they do is hide the true nature of people, until it is too late to do

    Read More

  • Censorship Limits Freedom of Speech

    406 Words  | 1 Pages

    Censorship is the control of communication between people. This includes restrictions on what can be seen and heard. Mostly, censorship is practiced by Governments. But religious and political leaders and special interest groups also try to control the flow of information. Censorship violates individual rights, hides useful information, and limits freedom of speech.

    Read More

  • Freedom Of Speech Should be Limited

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freedom of speech has many positive things, one of which is the help it gives on decision-making. Thanks to freedom of speech it is possible to express personal ideas without fear or restraints; therefore, all the perspectives and options will be on the table, giving people more opportunities to choose from. Nevertheless, everything in life has a limit, and the limit of freedom of speech depends directly on the consideration of the rights of others. People is free of believing what they want, thinking what they want, and even saying what they want, everything as long as they do not intrude or violate anyone else's rights. Under certain circumstances freedom of speech should be limited, and this is more than just a political action, this acts represent the urge for tolerance and the need for respect.

    Read More

  • Is Censorship Justified?

    1188 Words  | 3 Pages

    Is Censorship Justified? Ever wondered the reason behind racial discrimination, sexual discrimination, children committing crimes or violence? The main reason is that censorship is not properly imposed or there is a need for censorship in the society. Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain people, individuals, groups or government officials find objectionable, offensive or dangerous to others. There are varieties of other definitions, but all have in common the concept of withholding information and/or resources from those who seek it.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Obscenity In Film

    1642 Words  | 4 Pages

    The right to freely express who you are is a fundamental freedom for individuals provided and protected by the Bill of Rights. It is one of the most essential freedoms because it gives people the ability to express different ideas through art, political platforms, and sex. Unfortunately, free does not necessarily mean completely free. The government has the power to censor this freedom if the material, or action is considered to be indecent, or obscene to the average person. Even though there are logical reasons for restrictions, such as child pornography and “fighting words”. A judge has the power and authority to condemn a form of expression if he or she interrupts the material, and finds that it lacks serious social value. Old case law

    Read More

  • The Importance of Censorship

    611 Words  | 2 Pages

    Censorship affects our society in many different ways, it affects the music we listen to, the movies we watch, the books we read, and many other aspects of our everyday lives. Even though many might argue that censorship doesn't really have a place in a society that emphases freedom of speech and the freedom to express oneself, but censorship is an essential and needed part of our growing society, it's needed in the television industry, the Internet, and the music industry. Censorship helps to make our world a better place because it creates a better environment for us to live in.

    Read More

More about Censorship vs Freedom of Speech

Open Document