Free Speech Essay - 2089 Words

Free Speech â€Å"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.† These words were spoken by Benjamin Franklin, one of our nation’s founding fathers, when the United States was still a newly independent country. Free speech, which is defined as the right to express any opinion in public without censorship or restraint by the government, is a subject that is still present in the minds of many people today. At one extreme of the spectrum is a group of folks that do not care the slightest bit about free speech issues and at another end is a group of people who will vehemently fight to protect their right to free speech. In a middle ground, like most peoples’ stance, lay a large group of†¦show more content†¦All aspects of internet filters will be discussed including who chooses to use filtering software, why these groups use filters, how an internet content filter works, and the pro’s and con’s of implementi ng the use of filtering software. There are many different groups that choose to implement internet filtering software on computers that they own. Among these groups are libraries, schools, employers, and parents. In December of 2000, the United States Congress passed the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CHIPA), which is legislation that forced public and private libraries as well as schools that are federally funded through certain federal programs to install internet content blocking software for both child and adult users alike. If libraries and schools that chose to implement the internet blocking technology on their computers were compensated or benefited monetarily through additional government subsidy would have been fine, but when the government is federally mandating censorship it is a direct violation of individuals’ rights to free speech and expression guaranteed by the first amendment of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution of the United States of America. In an educational organization s’ letter to legislation, a strong opposition was expressed regarding the mandated â€Å"censorware† in schools and libraries across the nation. Several points were made in opposition to the internet content filters. The organization states that the new mandatoryShow MoreRelatedFree Speech Or Freedom Of Speech Essay911 Words   |  4 Pagesof Freedom, basically we are entitled for legal freedom to do whatever we wanted to. However, the freedom of speech has been challenged by many university students and educators recently. In their argument, they believe that free speech has triggered students’ unhappiness and jeopardize campus’ safety. What is the free speech or freedom of speech? According to dictionary, freedom of speech is the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to theRead MoreFree Speech Freedom Of Speech1689 Words   |  7 Pagesonce said, â€Å"Without freedom of thought, there can be n o such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech.† With this quote in mind, freedom of speech should surely be guaranteed right in a every institution. There are various forms of free speech to powerful speeches at a peaceful protest to a girl posting a selfie. Freedom of speech is the key concept that is basis of every human right. This inherent right should be protected and supported in a place where youngRead MoreFree Speech Freedom Of Speech1180 Words   |  5 PagesFree speech shall not incite evil and hatred in this country. 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Heyman in the article â€Å"Free Speech Has Limits,† freedom of speech comes tied together with respecting the freedom of other and the rights of other people (par. 4). The author goes on to say that cutting off other peoples rights in the name of free speech can be seen as wrongful and can be faced with consequences (parRead MoreFreedom Of Speech : Free Speech1296 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom Of Speech In 399 B.C, the Greek Philosopher Socrates was persecuted for an early argument promoting free speech. Later on, The Protection of Speech was first introduced when the Magna Carta was signed in 1215, and in 1948, the United Nations stated that free speech is a human right and drafted into the international Declaration of Human rights.The government doesn t have the right to make a law abridging the freedom of speech because Free Speech is a form of democracy and it s a fundamentalRead MoreFree Speech Freedom Of Speech886 Words   |  4 Pagesunlike any other. The issue? Free speech. Protesters from both sides of the the political spectrum are outraged. leftists claiming that free speech is â€Å"being used as a cover for spreading hate in America†, that people like the infamous Yiannopoulos (a conservative political commentator known for making offensive statements and supporting â€Å"white supremacy, transphobia, and misogyny†) are doing harm with their first amendme nt right, while conservatives are claiming free speech is being threatened by theRead MoreThe Rights Of Free Speech1182 Words   |  5 Pagespresence of hate speech against minorities and how to appropriately resolve issues of hate speech without infringing on the rights of free speech that is important for the existence of democracy. The purpose of using this document by Emily Foster is to use the contents of the article to help support their current position on the act of democratic censorship, but wither it be in a way to promote censorship in order to maintain order, or to remove censorship as a way to promote free speech is unclear toRead MoreFree Speech And Hate Speech1000 Words   |  4 Pagesbetween hate and free speech is, and what the first amendment does to control them both. The first amendment states that congress shall make no law that abridges the freedom of speech. But to what extent should language be protected? The rights of one man should reach until they shadow over another’s. Meaning free speech is protected until it violates the rights of another. Hate speech is the line where free speech becomes unconstitutional. The contrast between free speech and hate speech is a heavily