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...
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...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.
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...
"Protecting Freedom of Expression on the Campus” by Derek Bok, published in Boston Globe in 1991, is an essay about what we should do when we are faced with expressions that are offensive to some people. The author discusses that although the First Amendment may protect our speech, but that does not mean it protects our speech if we use it immorally and inappropriately. The author claims that when people do things such as hanging the Confederate flag, “they would upset many fellow students and ignore the decent regard for the feelings of others” (70). The author discusses how this issue has approached Supreme Court and how the Supreme Court backs up the First Amendment and if it offends any groups, it does not affect the fact that everyone has his or her own freedom of speech. The author discusses how censorship may not be the way to go, because it might bring unwanted attention that would only make more devastating situations. The author believes the best solutions to these kind of situations would be to
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.
Imagine a time when one could be fined, imprisoned and even killed for simply speaking one’s mind. Speech is the basic vehicle for communication of beliefs, thoughts and ideas. Without the right to speak one’s mind freely one would be forced to agree with everything society stated. With freedom of speech one’s own ideas can be expressed freely and the follower’s belief will be stronger. The words sound so simple, but without them the world would be a very different place.
"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.
Free speech at public universities and colleges is the most clear and the most contradictory of constitutional pr...
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
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...
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
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
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.
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.