Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Limitations on free speech
Debate on freedom of speech
Limitations on free speech
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Limitations on free speech
“I do not like the flag on the floor. I think that it should be displayed high up, above everything else. People should not be able to walk on it at all. I think it’s is very disrespectful. To me, it makes it look like a doormat and doormats are suppose to get dirty because you wipe your feet on them. This is not how America’s flag should be displayed.” What kind of response does she have to it? “The response I feel when I look at it, is anger. It angers me that anyone would even consider walking on it.” Does it connect for her? “No, this artwork does not connect for me. I don’t understand why anyone would see this as art especially when it is displayed in the United States where mostly U.S. citizens are going to be looking at it. I don’t understand …show more content…
It is disrespectful to our country and our military. It upsets me to think that some veterans walk into this museum and see this being displayed as art. It almost makes me feel embarrassed of our country to have this displayed.” Ask if she believes an artist has the right to treat the flag like this? “I believe that the artist does have the right to create something like this because we do have freedom of speech and that is what he is displayed. However, as a citizen of the United States, he should be respecting the country and not taking advantage of the freedom of speech law by using it against the United States. Should they do it? And why? “No, I don’t think the artist should not have created this. He can practice freedom of speech, but I think he should allow a different way for other people to practice their freedom of speech. For example, if I went and saw this artwork, I would want to share my opinion and state that I don’t like this piece of art. However, I wouldn't want to step on the flag. So I’m saying that it is not fair that anyone who wants to share their opinion should have to step on the flag in order to do so. There should be some sort of alternative as to how someone could share their opinion without disrespecting their
I believe people lack respect for the flag and what it stands for. Although most people are proud to be an American, some don’t understand what it truly means to be an American. The flag has a history, and should be respected because of that history. Although most believe that respect should be earned, our flag has earned this many times over. And I believe that our flag is taken for granted.
Stripes and stars forever, right? Well, what exactly does that mean? The American Flag can be seen almost anywhere. From the high-school, to the ball park, and even in our homes, the American flag stands as a symbol of all that is good and true in America. When one thinks of the flag, they usually think of the blood that was shed for this country. It was shed so that we could have liberties, such as, freedom of speech and expression, which fall under the first amendment rights of the Constitution. However, when you think of a burning flag, what comes to mind? One might say it shows disrespect and hatred to a country that has given so much. In the case of Texas v. Johnson, Gregory Lee Johnson was accused of desecrating a sacred object, but, his actions were protected by the First Amendment. Although his actions may have been offensive, he did not utter fighting words. By burning the flag, Johnson did not infringe upon another's natural human rights. He was simply expressing his outrage towards the government, which is within the jurisdiction of the First Amendment.
To the Majority Opinion it’s a flag of our nation but to the Dissenting opinion its means more than just a flag. It means “White signifies purity and innocence, Red, hardiness & velour, and Blue, the color of the Chief (the broad band above the stripes) signifies vigilance, perseverance & justice." In this case the Dissenting opinion gave reasons why flag burning should be banned. Eventually Congress passed the Flag Protection Act of 1989. The Act banned flag burning regardless of whether the person burning the flag intended to cause offense to
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.
It only took one sentence to show how this “heritage” that many wish to preserve and hold dear was never harmless. The history that the Nazi flag holds is well known to be racist and is responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people. When someone looks at the Nazi flag, they remember the concentration camps, the gas chambers, and the starving and diseased people. When someone looks at the Klu Klux Klan’s hood and cloak, they remember the lynchings, the murders, and the place that it still holds in today’s society. With the Confederate flag being coupled with a member of the KKK, it is hard to deny that the history that the flag holds is undoubtedly
In order to help answer this question, let’s begin by defining what a flag is. The proponents (veterans, Citizens Flag Alliance, and other organizations of this type) of the amendment for protection of the flag define the flag as a “cultural artifact with meaning, significance, and usage determined by the particular system employing it (Guenter 18).” Some flag historians have recognized the impact of culture on the shifting significance and usage of the national banner, although no one has ventured a full-scale probe of the subject (Guenter 16). The flag in the beginning was a symbol of freedom and enlightenment. The flag design has changed.
A final reason why flag burning should not be banned is that it is an act that allows
That flag represented your mother and father, your sister and brother, your friends, neighbors, and everyone at home. I wonder what they would say if someone asked them permission to burn the American flag?
and I read it was the Korean War Veterans Memorial and immediately got the message the artists were trying to convey. It was very clear that they were showing the public that freedom is not freedom. The memorial symbolizes the soldiers that have fought for the freedom of others and it recognizes the importance of these actions and sacrifices. The intentions of the memorial are met by many people.
The United States of America is often known for having more freedom than anywhere else. As Gandhi said, “A ‘no’ uttered from the deepest conviction is better and greater than a ‘yes’ uttered to please, or what is worse, to avoid trouble.” Freedom of speech is a big part of the American culture and citizens are encouraged to speak their minds and opinions openly. It is such an important aspect of each American individual that it is
One may argue that banning the flag would deny free expression, but hanging the flag also says that racism is acceptable and the pain, suffering and cruelty endured by the African Americans has no importance. The color of a person’s skin should not be an issue, just like how religion and gender should not be an issue. The flag is a silent way of saying that one agrees with racism and the seceding of our country. Consequently, the flag should be banned. The controversy over the Confederate flag has been an issue for many years.
The article ¨Should There Be Limits on Freedom of Speech?” delineates when Salman Rushdie published his novel that consisted of many unfair statements about Muslims, there were many violent protests around the world as an outcome (1). Rushdie, the author of the very controversial novel, pleaded that the First Amendment protected his writings, but this is invalid. His writings caused riots that turned to be extremely violent where many people got hurt; furthermore, since his words caused this chaos, he is no longer protected. The Constitution does not provide any statements that prove that these people who start riots are to be protected under their rights. The American people must wake up and realize that their ignorant actions are not protected; moreover, their actions are their responsibility. They chose to speak their mind, so they must have to own up to the repercussions that follow. If a person is responsible for causing a riot that ends in many injuries, or even death, they should not be able to claim that the First Amendment protects their violations. The article continues with if a person were to stand up in front of a large or small crowd and purposely speak of topics that would begin a riot, they would not be protected under the First Amendment (1). Many individuals are unaware that as soon as they begin speaking of controversial topics, and purposely
The dissenting opinion to the previous idea is that the government's legitimate interest in preserving the symbolic value of the flag is, however, essentially the same that may have motivated a particular act of flag burning. The flag uniquely symbolizes the ideas of liberty, equality, and tolerance -- ideas that Americans have passionately defended and debated throughout our history. The flag embodies the spirit of our national commitment to those ideals. To the world, the flag is our promise that we will continue to strive for these ideals. To us, the flag is a reminder both that the struggle for li...
I was able to attend a fair on September 15 at the city of Bell Gardens. The fair was created to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day, which in Spanish is called Dia de la Independencia de Mexico. On September 15, they celebrate El Grito de Mexico. This event is celebrated every year, to remind people about the day they gain their independence, which brings many individuals to do the Grito de Dolores. In this case, the mayor of the city along with her colleagues and the escoltas were present. Not only was the Mexico flag present, but also the United States flag. At first, they mayor of the city told all the individuals to stand up and remove their hats for the respect of the flags. They started with the United States national anthem, which the escolta was walking with the United States flag, while the people were told to put their right hand over there heart and then they song along with the
Freedom of expression for ourselves requires freedom of expression for others. A free society is based on the principle that each and every individual has the right to decide what art or entertainment he or she wants or does not want to receive or create. Once you allow the government to censor someone else, you cede to it the the power to censor you, or something you