Freedom Of Speech The First Amendment - 1412 Words

Overview of Free Speech Freedom of Speech. The First Amendment. It’s likely the most well-known part of the United States Constitution, and was considered by the founders of our country to be one of the most important pieces of a free society. While in years prior it has generally been agreed upon that free speech - especially political speech - is vital to democracy, today there are some people singing a different tune. There are those who believe that certain offensive speech (or in some cases any and all offensive speech) should be prohibited by law. This idea of restricting offensive verbal content is known generally as ‘political correctness’ and will be referred to as such here. The First Amendment says that â€Å"Congress shall make no†¦show more content†¦The District Court of Washington, D.C. upheld BCRA, saying it was constitutional for the film and advertisements for it to be restricted. The Supreme Court of the United States had a different o pinion; they struck down the provisions of BCRA that banned corporations and labor unions from using funds to broadcast campaign ads, but upheld a piece of said law that said there must be sponsor disclosures on any advertisement that fits the bill. So, why did this become controversial? To start, the original argument made by Citizens United was that Hillary was a 90-minute film, not an advertisement, so it shouldn’t qualify for BCRA’s rules; but, the initial conversation went down a different path, turning this into a freedom of political speech vs. BCRA type of argument. When the ruling came out, there were obviously those in favor of it (the Courts upheld the First Amendment in their view); and there were those opposed to it, who claimed that it would allow candidates with wealthy donors and Super-PACs backing them to gain more influence over the peoples’ election decisions. Clearly the Supreme Court seems fairly reluctant to silence free speech; but what a bout ordinary citizens? The Case for Political Correctness Political Correctness, or ‘PC’ is seemingly becoming very popular around the nation. Opponents of it argue that people are just getting too sensitive and the ‘PC police’ were stepping in to silence free speech.Show MoreRelatedThe First Amendment And Freedom Of Speech In Schools1571 Words   |  7 PagesThe First Amendment gives the citizens of the United States their most important rights: the right to freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of religion, and the freedom of assembly. Over time these rights have worked themselves into the everyday lives of United States citizens. However, there are still places where our First Amendment rights may be compromised. In the school system, finding a balance of respect and freedom of speech and press is as difficult as learning out to tightrope walkRead MoreFreedom Of Speech By The First Amendment Of The Constitution1657 Words   |  7 Pagesprotected by the First Amendment of the Constitution.† (Literacy, 2005) This definition describes the most important freedom in my eyes. Without freedom of speech, I am unable to be the individual that I strive to be, which is to stick out and be unique, which is why I treasure freedom of speech the most. I am going to take advantage of my freedom of speech and use it to cultivate and progress my business goals in life to make me successful as a woman in the business world. Freedom of speech had to takeRead MoreThe Freedom Of Speech Through The First Amendment Essay1156 Words   |  5 PagesAccording to the Bill of Rights, we are afforded the freedom of speech through the first amendment. But this awarding of freedom is only allowed if it goes along with what the general population deems â€Å"normal†. During the middle part of the 1900’s many books were banned on political, religious, and moral views. While our society has changed these issues are still prevalent in today’s public views and opinions of author’s work. These books are not â€Å"normal† and that is why they play an unprecedentedRead MoreThe First Amendment Violates Our Freedom Of Speech814 Words   |  4 Pagesall face adversities that mold the way we carry out decisions and have an impact on the way we make decisions and view situations. American citizens have the right to vote for our leaders, and it is vital to exercise this freedom. The First Amendment constitutes our freedom of speech, but if not properly exercise our right to vote, how can we justify protesting the outcome of policies. The president serves as an advocate for many political policies. We as American citizens blame the president whenRead MoreFirst 10 Amendments of the US Constitution: Focus on Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press, and the Right to Assemble548 Words   |  2 Pagesï » ¿First 10 Amendments of the US Constitution: Focus on Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press and the Right to Assemble Balkin, J. (2004). Digital speech and democratic culture: a theory of freedom of expression for the information society. New York University Law Review, Paper 240. In this article by Balkin, he discussed the evolution of one of the important components of the Bill of Rights of the United States (US) Constitution, which is the freedom of speech. In his discussion of freedom of speechRead MoreFreedom Of Speech By John Locke Essay1325 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom of speech is the right given to all United States citizens to express their opinions openly, without having to fear legal punishment. However, the idea of this freedom goes back far before the United States was even declared an independent country. In the 16th century, European thinkers such as John Locke began to discuss freedom of speech as a basic human right, a necessity for a free and thriving society and a well governed country. In the United States, freedom of speech is split intoRead MorePersuasive Essay On Hate Speech1612 Words   |  7 Pages In the name of free speech, hate speech should not be tolerated. Hate speech has devastating effects on the people and communities it is targeted at. Left unchecked hate speech can lead to harmful and violent effects. Over the past few years, the effects of hate speech used on women, homosexuals, ethnic groups and religious minorities have become more and more apparent. Hate speech can be very divisive in many of the situations it is used, depending on who interprets the expression can vary howRead MoreHate Speech And Freedom Of Speech1393 Words   |  6 Pages In the name of free speech, hate speech should not be tolerated. Hate speech has devastating effects on the people and communities it is targeted at. Left unchecked hate speech can lead to harmful and violent effects. Over the past few years, the effects of hate speech used on women, homosexuals, ethnic groups and religious minorities have become more and more apparent. Hate speech can be very divisive in many of the situations it is used, depending on who interprets the expression can vary howRead MoreThe Importance Of The Bill Of Rights1331 Words   |  6 Pagesbecoming law. Out of the ten amendments in the Bill of Rights, the section regarding freedom of expression within the first amendment and ninth amendment protect a large portion of the freedom enjoyed by the citizens of the United States. These amendments are different in what they protect: the First Amendment regarding free speech provides protection for a single, identified right, whereas the Ninth Amendment is far vaguer and is therefore less powerful. The free speech phrase has protected far moreRead MoreWhy the 1st Amendment Is the Best1142 Words    |  5 PagesAmendment Essay By: Christina Ramler Neil Gaiman once said, â€Å"The current total of countries in the world with First Amendments is one. You have guaranteed the freedom of speech. Other countries don’t have that.† At the time of the amendments’ creation, a vast majority of operating countries had not yet granted their people such freedoms. Granting every citizen of the United States this right seemed to have been an important landmark in this nation’s history. Along with others, this right is declared