Free Speech: What exactly is it? What can you do and what can you not do in the USA? What would you be willing to tolerate under the guise of free speech? As always, it helps to give specific examples. Please be sure to comment directly on other bloggers comments. Directly address them in your post. Also, it's always intellectually honest to change your position on an issue after thinking through another person's point of view. Even better, it is okay to communicate that growth in your post.
15 comments:
I don't think that speech is really free. I mean, think about it- can you really say anything that you want without getting into trouble? What about at school? You can't just start cussing out the teacher and not get in trouble. :) You don't even have free speech at your soccer game. If you start yelling at the ref you get thrown out. Maybe you get really mad about a bad call, and you're put on the bench. Is there a spot that there really IS freedom of speech?
Freedom of speech is the most important right that is guaranteed by the Constitution.
I personally believe that when others say that we the people have the freedom of speech; they are stretching the truth. I agree with miwalk1 that the freedom of speech is the most important right that is guaranteed by the Constitution, but let me ask you this; would you be able to scream curse words at the top of your lungs to your boss while in some important meeting? Would you not get punished? You most definitely would! So to call it freedom of speech is not all that true, because it isn't much of a freedom, but more of a right that you must pay the consequences for.
Here's an interesting quote about freedom of speech that I found on http://thinkexist.com/
“I have always been among those who believed that the greatest freedom of speech was the greatest safety, because if a man is a fool, the best thing to do is to encourage him to advertise the fact by speaking” - Woodrow T. Wilson
What do you think this quote is saying?
I agree with sydlo6. We have the freedom of speech but only to an extent. For example, we aren't allowed to say anything that goes against our president-which,in my opinion, shows that freedon of speech has many different catergories and we have limitations as to what we can say to other people. So, what is considered 'acceptable' and what is consided 'unacceptable' when it comes to our freedom of speech?
I don't think that speech is really free. I mean, when you are a child/teenager you can't just come into a room and cuss out you're parents or a teacher without getting into a lot trouble, and the same goes with adults. If you walked into work one day and just decided to cuss out you're boss, he/she would be very angry with you and you would most likely be fired. Also if you were a teacher and called a kid stupid and started yelling and cussing them out a lot of parents would be mad, and guess what? You would be fired because not only would that be inappropriate, it also goes aganist the rules.
I also agree with miwalk1 that freedom of speech is the most important right that is guaranteed by the Cunstitution, but are we really allowed that right today in America?
Even though I may disagree with someone, I do not want to disregard a person's basic right to say what they want, but I believe it must have "rules of engagement" in public arenas. Besides the instances of the downright illegal and immoral (ex. yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater), we do have the duty to provide structures in society to govern social interaction. Sorry that you can't cuss out your teacher or boss without some serious pain! So yes, we do have freedom of speech in the U.S., but that always goes hand-in-hand with responsibility and accepting the consequences for our actions. Your average American holds this freedom in high regard, and, even though tempers flare from time to time (flag-burning, protesting at a dead soldier's funeral, abortion clinics, political debates), we, at times, take this freedom for granted. We could learn lots from those who struggle for it or those who have been silenced forever because they dared to take a stand. I believe you don't have to look across our borders to find evidence--Free speech is threatened every day in our country through censorship and book banning. Visit the following banned book website: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/books/banned-books.html
and see what you think.
I don't think there really is total freedom of speech anywhere. In America there are certainly punishments for saying certain things, but they are much less severe than in countries that don't have "free speach." Truthfully, you can do anything you want, but there will always be concequences, good or bad, regardless of the law. I also agree that in some cases there are things that you shouldn't do or say because of moral reasons, regardless of the law, such as protesting at a funeral. Even though we do not have total free speech without punishment, I think this is an important right to protect and we should try to stop book banning and censorship
I don't think there really is total freedom of speech anywhere. In America there are certainly punishments for saying certain things, but they are much less severe than in countries that don't have "free speach." Truthfully, you can do anything you want, but there will always be concequences, good or bad, regardless of the law. I also agree that in some cases there are things that you shouldn't do or say because of moral reasons, regardless of the law, such as protesting at a funeral. Even though we do not have total free speech without punishment, I think this is an important right to protect and we should try to stop book banning and censorship
Freedom of Speech has its limits, I'll admit, but the fact still stands that we have if and other countries don't. I mean, their are people in India and areas around there, were, even just talking back to your father/husband (your married at thirteen!) can get you a beating if not something more serious. And Yes, the goverment streches the truth on the whole 'Freedom of Speech' thing, but... they strech the truth on a lot of things. Do they not?
Sydlo6 left a quote that I needed to spend some time thinking about. Here is the quote she found:
“I have always been among those who believed that the greatest freedom of speech was the greatest safety, because if a man is a fool, the best thing to do is to encourage him to advertise the fact by speaking” - Woodrow T. Wilson
I think he is saying that we should thank our lucky stars for a culture which rewards free speech because the fools always advertise that fact once they feel free to open their mouths. People in America tend to be very opinionated and full of self-expression. Sometimes this is a good thing (like when someone has something helpful to add to our society), but it is also entertaining. Just watch reality TV. I know I shouldn't waste my time on it, but you can't help but get sucked into some shows because the fools continually advertise their own stupidity. I know it is horrible that our society seems to reward such bad behavior by giving them TV shows, but admit it, in a place deep inside of you, you like watching it!
Hey sydlo6, I believe that what free speech means is completely what it says. If you wanted to say curse words to a teacher then you can, no one can stop you from saying what you feel. You do have to realize however, that words and actions have consquences. It is important to be respectful and careful with words because they can sometimes create a reality.
I don't think we should have the freedom of speech. People abuse this "power" that we have to an extent, that i feel the need to get rid of it. I'm not saying we can't speak our minds, but we shouldn't be babbling about childish stuff, such as gossip, how much we hate something. We can express ourselves, but only to ourselves. That is why we have our minds. We may think what we want but you don't always speak your mind, do you? I think people are dumb enough to do so about what they think fore say, about the government on how they made a stupid decision or saying how dumb a president is. They are the ones helping the country, but when they say something about the people, media twists and turns it until they think they are the worst person alive. I think that should be the extent for freedom of speech.
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Free speech is really a very general topic. Sure, the way it's interpreted is that we can say whatever we want without punishment. But in reality, there are negative consequences for many things that are said. Words, in fact, are that basis of bullying and torture even throuout history. For example, Hitler never fired a shot. All of the people controlled by him were by words. The ideas that were put into people's mind about Jews were just by words. He was even taken into power by convincing people he was good enough. We don't have complete free speech, but, in fact, freedom of speaking.
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