Losing Free Speech Essay - 1807 Words

â€Å"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.† These words were spoken by Franà §ois-Marie Arouet, more well known by his pen name, Voltaire (Quotes About Censorship, #36). A French philosopher from the seventeen hundreds, Voltaire is believed to have influenced the Founding Fathers of America. As a matter of fact, this quote makes up the backbone of the First Amendment from the U.S. Constitution, which states: 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 peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. While these words†¦show more content†¦A small amount of censorship will not encroach on someone’s freedom of speech, rather it will prevent America from falling into a hole of profanity and deprecation that she might never be able to dig her self out of. â€Å"A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.† The author of this quote is unknown, but they make a valid point. Any and all the information anyone could ever want is available to anyone and everyone who wants it. The Internet has absolutely no limits because it’s infinite; no one can control it. There’s no way. It’s because of this fact that there are sites like WikiLeaks popping up, snubbing their noses at the government knowing that there is nothing to be done to stop them. However, it’s also because of WikiLeaks that the government and other private sources have started to step in and moderate what should be considered appropriate. Take, for example, the school board in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Dr. June Talvite-Siple was caught by parents making derogatory remarks about her students and the school district on her Facebook page, resulting in her firing. While it’s easy for Dr. Siple to argue that she believe d her privacy settings were set in such a way that no one but her friends would be able to see her posts, the issue still stands. She was criticizing her place of work on the Internet, a place where anyone can find information about anything. If a prospective teacher or someone consideringShow MoreRelatedInfringement Upon The Right Of Free Speech1356 Words   |  6 Pages Infringement Upon the Right of Free Speech One of the most notable rights stated in our constitution is the right to free speech. That right is engrained in the minds of every American since the creation of America itself, but currently the right to free speech is being tossed aside in the fear of conflict with opposing ideas or offensive content. College universities specifically have taken steps to impede upon this right through speech codes and other acts that restrict the right to speak freelyRead MoreEssay about Censorship In Radio1334 Words   |  6 Pages  Censorship in radio For the past several years Freedom of speech in America has had it’s meaning changed many times. Although the changes have gone unnoticed by most Americans, In the radio business they are felt day in and day out. radio personalities, programmers, and owners have to deal with this everyday but they too have no real idea what the Federal Communications Commission’s idea of free speech is. You see the rule seems to change depending on who you are. If you are tagged by theRead MoreThe Price of Freedom Essay511 Words   |  3 Pagesfreedom is not free but that it is rather large. After obtaining freedom, we look back and wonder was it worth it? Was freedom overpriced? In other words, did we sacrifice and pay too much to be free? In the United States history, there have been many wars that have taken place. We live the way we do today because of the many brave men and women that have sacrificed their lives. There is no doubt that this is a huge price. One persons life is big enough! Just imagine losing your father, motherRead More`` Apple Removes All American Civil War Games From The App Store Because Of The Confederate Flag1382 Words   |  6 PagesSupreme Court of the United States decided on Texas v. Johnson which ruled in favor of the first amendment. Exercising the first amendment can be controversial; however, the censorship of people is unnecessary and it conflicts with the principle of free speech, which is a key aspect of American culture. In the past few years, during the holiday season, â€Å"happy holidays† can be heard instead of the traditional â€Å"merry Christmas.† This is because some people find the term merry Christmas offensive. As aRead MoreEssay about Free Speech1257 Words   |  6 Pagesuse the rights we are given constitutionally, we are often being criticized and even reprimanded. Our freedom to voice our opinion(s) is being challenged, as critics of free speech are taking offense to what seems like anything and everything merely controversial and arguably prejudice. As people continue to strive for a nation free of prejudice and discrimination, where everyone is equal, safe and happy, they overlook the outcome of creating such an environment. Without different beliefs, theoriesRead MoreSpeech : Freedom Of Speech1364 Words   |  6 Pagesfreedom of speech can be tricky, understanding what can be said under the first amendment is key. This will give you more confidence when you re talk ing about current events, it ll inhibit social interaction, but the biggest reason of all is understanding your rights will keep you out of jail. Even the supreme court struggles to determine what exactly constitutes protected speech. When trying to see if your covered by the first amendment, certain questions have to be displayed. Are we free to sayRead MoreThe Rights Of The United States883 Words   |  4 Pagesare freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press, freedom of assembly and freedom of petition. The First Amendment is very powerful and has the ability to protect us but sometime even harm us (for example some of the lawsuits against First Amendment). American citizens have certain rights to be proud that they are Americans. One of this rights is the freedom of speech. The freedom of speech is not only spoken words it s much more than this. Freedom of speech allowing peopleRead MoreCensorship : Censorship And Censorship Essay1513 Words   |  7 Pagescorrectness has become a form of censorship. With protestors forcing students to find alternate routes to school or pushing the administration to cancel guest speakers in fear of triggering students, the modern-day university is no longer a place of free, critical, thinking, but a place of censorship. Political correctness (is used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended primarily not to offend or disadvantage any group of people in society. In Juan William’s essay, ‘Defying theRead MoreShould Censorship Be Banned From Social Media Platform?1523 Words   |  7 PagesPress). Censorship regularly imposes certain beliefs on the masses. The practices of suppressing free speech and hindering public communication is extremely prevalent in American culture and it is even common among other cultures. Tom Head, an author for ThoughtCo, makes an excellent point in his quote â€Å"The right to free speech is a long-standing U.S. tradition, but actually respecting the right to free speech is not† (Head). By this he means that America has never truly respected the beliefs of the people;Read MoreThe Freedom Of Religion During The Glorious Revolution894 Words   |  4 Pages The Freedom of Religion Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... is the First Amendment of the United States which was adapted on December 15, 1791. To be understood the way this right is understood today, it had to make a very long and difficult journey across decades and a lot of historical events. From the Glorious Revolution in England to the drafting of the