Free Speech: Change or Stabilization

Ernesto Lorenzo

Thesis Question

Should the United States of America change the right of Free Speech so that it no longer protects the actions of hate speech?

Free Speech

Protects

Symbolic Speech Burning a flag

The right not to speak War protests (i.e. Black

armbands)

Does Not Protect

Speech that incites actions that would harm others (example: yelling “fire” in a crowded area)

Burning draft cards as an anti-war protest

Obscene speech at a school-sponsored event

Hate Speech

Definition: Speech that is intentionally deeply offensive to a racial, religious, or other group, seeking to condemn or dehumanize a member of such a group.

Examples: Funeral Protesting

Westboro Baptist Church

Cyber Bullying

Westboro Baptist Church

Infamous funeral protests

Actions are protected by the first Amendment.

Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act of 2012 Restricts time and

distance for protests.

Free Speech

Supposed to enhance self-esteem People should not be afraid to say what they

feel Cyber bullying falls under this category

Cyber bullying

Bullying through the use of technology Text messages,

email, social media, etc.

Emotional and psychological abuse

Cyber bullies are hard to convict because many alleged cyber bullies claim free speech protection

Counter Arguments

Government will have too much power The censoring beliefs It is a birth given right in America that should

not be taken away.

Rebuttal

Censoring of beliefs Hate speech is the use of

speech to attack someone. Beliefs will not be censored if

people are not attacked. Example:

The protests of the Westboro Baptist Church would not be considered hate speech if it did not target the families of deceased soldiers.

Government will have too much power

Government officials are voted into office with us knowing that they will be put in a position of power.

Free speech already contains restrictions The amount of power

should, therefore, remain the same

Rebuttal The right will not be removed, just limited

Hate speech hinders a constitutional right: the right to pursue happiness.

Birth given right.

Closing Points

‘Hate speech’ should no longer be protected by free speech

Beliefs will not be censored, but personal attacks will stop.

Works Cited

Britton, Arman. “Freedom of Speech Should Never be Limited.” The South End. The South End. 06 Oct. 2010. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.

Bullying Statistics. Bullying Statistics. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. Center for Civic Education. Center for Civic Education. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. “Free Speech at Military Funerals” Editorial. The New York Times. The New York Times. 12 Aug. 2012. Web.

7 Oct. 2012.Kamaron Institute. The Kamaron Institute. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.Miron, Jeffrey. “Limiting Free Speech Isn’t the Answer.” CNN. CNN. 15 Jan. 2011. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.Ross, Lee. “Westboro Funeral Pickets Are Protected Speech, High Court Rules” Fox News. Fox News. 02 Mar.

2011. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.Rottman, Gabe. “Even vile funeral protests are free speech” CNN. CNN. 8 Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Sept. 2012.Westboro Baptists Tweet That They Will Protests Jobs Funeral. Cast PODCAST. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. United States Courts. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.