The Importance Of Freedom Of Speech

908 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Censorship media speech

Freedom is the idea that founded the greatest country to exist: The United States of America. This principle has guided the way for other countries to create and share their own freedoms and constitutions. Within America, the Bill of Rights might be the most important document for any citizens to walk within the borders. On that document, the understanding of freedom to believe, speak, press, and assemble hold the highest value. In the modern context, freedom of speech is under fire. Examples raging from all corners of the country: Donald Trump’s word choice, cartoon drawings of Muhammad, comedians, and many more. One question that comes from this issue is its place in mass media; specifically the freedom of speech. Before diving into the …show more content…

This is an ethical issue that cannot be backed by numbers and research. The intention of this amendment in 1789 was to increase the follow of ideas, news, and freedoms whether they are popular or not. Today, social media are trying to censor certain topics like national terrorism, neo-Nazi propaganda, and other very selective martial. Freedom of speech is very hard to understand because it can be very nasty. Again, these radical ideas are considered hate speech and this not being supportive of them, although, it should be the job of the public or culture to censor themselves. Giving that power to mass media will create a wave of criticism, backlash, and hypocritical behaviors. For example, reporter Nazz Napworth of the Christian post explains “the Associated Press removed a photo of an art piece called "Piss Christ" from its website Wednesday after a journalist pointed out the company 's double standard. AP has refused to publish the Charlie Hebdo cartoons mocking Muhammad that led to Hebdo 's murder due to its policy of not publishing "deliberately provocative images." This begins the slippery slope and New York Times editor Rafael O. Gomez, illustrates that idea by stating, “Freedom of speech is a critical stitch in the fabric of democracy. The monitoring and restriction of even violent content can have dire consequences, despite being well-intentioned. Who decides what is

Show More
Related

  • Annotated Bibliography Should A Person's Freedom Of Speech Be Limited In Any Way?

    1153 Words  | 3 Pages

    This source supplies my paper with more evidence of how freedom of speech is in a dangerous place. American has always stood by freedom of speech, and to see how social media platforms try to manipulate and take off as the choose to increase slight bias is unpleasant. The article establishes a worry to the fellow readers that hold freedom of speech so high and that it is at risk. The article manages to explain why freedom of speech is in danger, and why there should be no limits to free speech.

    Read More

  • 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

  • Book Banning and First Amendment Right

    1699 Words  | 4 Pages

    The First Amendment 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 of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" (First Amendment Oct. 20, 2013). But "the First Amendment does not protect all speech from government censorship, and it does not prevent private non-government entities from censoring. Years of US Supreme Court decisions have identified exceptions to the general rule that the governments in the United States cannot censor" (Censorship Copyright © 2002). American citizen's right of freedom of speech should be held in the highest integrity and any kind of censorship of free speech should not be allowed because it take away those rights. However, censorship has been going on for centuries.

    Read More

  • Symbolic Speech Should Be Protected

    2507 Words  | 6 Pages

    1. The measure of a great society is the ability of its citizens to tolerate the viewpoints of those with whom they disagree. As Voltaire once said, “I may disagree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” (Columbia). This right to express one's opinion can be characterized as “freedom of speech.” The concept of “freedom of speech” is a Constitutional right in the United States, guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution:

    Read More

  • Essay On What Does It Mean To Be An American

    761 Words  | 2 Pages

    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

    Read More

  • Freedom of Speech

    1581 Words  | 4 Pages

    Without the right to speak freely one would not be able to debt, nor would one be able to receive full coverage on world issues. There would be no interesting newspapers, no free religion and no free thoughts. This amendment seems so simple but, the boundaries of which issues and incidents are covered are so complex and varied. What is legal and illegal?

    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

  • Freedom Of Speech: The Second Amendment To The First Amendment

    1466 Words  | 3 Pages

    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

    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

    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

    Read More

  • The Importance Of The Free Speech Movement

    749 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Free Speech Movement protested the ban of on campus political activities and speeches. Thousands of students became involved in this protest and together they displayed how much power there was in student activism. In the fall of 1964, the Regents of the university enforced a new ban that blocked students from holding political activities at Sproul Plaza on Bancroft and Telegraph. This was unsettling to them because the Bancroft Strip was a key location that students occupied when trying to reach out, raise funds and speak up for what they believed in. Previous policies suggested that student life outside of the university wouldn't be tampered or interfered with, so this was an outrage to the students of UC Berkeley. When the regents took time to revise and tweak the ban, students were still unhappy with the decision, so a sit in at Sproul Hall was organized and it lasted for nearly 10 hours.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of The Freedom Of Speech?

    1244 Words  | 3 Pages

    The First Amendment protects the right of freedom of speech, which gradually merges into the modern perspective of the public throughout the history and present. The restriction over the cable TV and broadcast media subjected by the Federal Communications Commission violates the freedom of speech, irritating the dissatisfied public by controlling over what can be said on the air. Should the FCC interfere with the free speech of media? The discretion of content being presented to the public should not be completely determined by the FCC, but the public in its entirety which enforces a self-regulation with freedom and justice, upholding and emphasizing the freedom of speech by abolishing the hindrance the FCC brought.

    Read More

  • Chameleon Benefits

    1410 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freedom of Speech is a tool to benefit the people, a way so that the public could be heard. Yet, these past generations have abused the power of free speech. It’s an issue that has become harder to resolve since it interferes with Constitution. With the help of social media's, this arisen issue involves the public being manipulated by individuals protected by the First Amendments. People obscuring (bending

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Restrictions On Freedom Of Speech

    1917 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Bill of Rights has gained existence since December 15, 1791. Being supported mainly by anti-federalists, the Bill of Rights upheld what was needed to protect individual liberty. From the ratification we have our first ten amendments. The most important and used today is the first amendment. The amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting… petition the government for a redress of grievances.” This amendment is very powerful but cannot be overly abused. Over time the freedom of speech has been constricted. There are many court cases that display the limitation of free speech. Environmental factors and certain materials are not covered in free speech. To understand our rights and know how and when our rights are limited, we must

    Read More

  • Freedom Of Speech Should be Limited

    1338 Words  | 3 Pages

    Freedom of speech cannot be considered an absolute freedom, and even society and the legal system recognize the boundaries or general situations where the speech should not be protected. Along with rights comes civil responsib...

    Read More

More about The Importance Of Freedom Of Speech

Open Document