Free Speech

Many Americans pride themselves with the fact that the United States government has addressed the notion of our Freedom of Speech; however, they feel that the word freedom is a bit misleading in this regard. Many feel as though they do not, truly, have Freedom of Speech, due to the boundaries that have been placed on them through the conditions of the 1st Amendment. They feel that their speech is mildly tainted since there are so many restrictions placed on their freedom. Some feel as though they just do not have the full creative rights that they need and deserve. Now, let’s be honest to ourselves and each other. If these restrictions were not in place, there would be a great deal of quite more harmful messages sent out into the world. These boundaries are not set in place to harm you, but to see to it that no harm comes to you. To whom much is given, much is expected… so therefore, with your Freedom of Speech, also comes the right to act responsibly.

1. A restriction that is placed on your right to Freedom of Speech is the notion of “Clear and Present Danger.” This means that with your Freedom of Speech, you do not have the right to publish any material that is going to jeopardize the state of the nation’s security. It can not pose any threat to the safety concerns of the inhabitants of the United States.

2. Another restriction that you have in terms of your Freedom of Speech is that you are not to commit the act of defamation. This means that you are not to state anything that you know to be false about someone, that you know could cause harm to their reputation. You are not to say anything, knowingly false, that is going to cause others to choose not to associate themselves with that person based on the falsehoods that you have stated or published. Although you do have Freedom of Speech, you are not allowed to make any false claims that are going to cause that person to have a negative image.

3. An additional restriction that is placed on your right to Freedom of Speech is the zero tolerance for obscenity. Obscenity is characterized as any expression of lewd expression that is offensive to others. Although this part of the restriction placed on your Freedom of Speech is very subjective, we all know how to determine whether or not a form of creative expression is deemed to be obscene. Even as the artist, you are able to make the fairest assessments as to whether or not your art form is obscene. We must use our better judgment in all our expressive art forms to make those key distinctions between Freedom of Speech, and pure obscenity.

Freedom of Speech

Your Freedom of Speech does not stop before you enter the door of the classroom. From when you are a young child, you are made aware of your Freedom of Speech. Before you even get comfortable in your seat, you are asked to speak. In fact, you will learn that you are going to be constantly called on in class. As you continue to age in the school system, you find that you are actually encouraged to speak. You are encouraged to utilize your Freedom of Speech. A few years down the line, you learn that if you do not speak in class, this could hurt your overall grade. That’s right your “participation” grade is one of the grades of measure that contribute to your overall grade. Needless to say, your Freedom of Speech is definitely recognized in the classroom.

1. The key basis of utilizing your Freedom of Speech in school is that you must do so in a way that is respectful. You are allowed to express yourself in a way that exudes passion, but you have to be mindful to others in the classroom. In the classroom setting, you must be considerate of those that are in the room. You are able to use forward thinking and speaking, but you are to do so in a way that is not going to jeopardize the integrity of others. Using your Freedom of Speech in school is about being responsible for your actions, and using language that is going to be in consideration to those around you.

2. Another key element to your Freedom of Speech in school is that your instructors are to give you the right to let your voice be heard. They have to give you the right to speak. They can not prohibit you from contributing to a class discussion as long as you are conducting yourself in a respectable manner. You are to be given the opportunity to state your cause on any given issue that the class is presented with.

3. As far as Freedom of Speech in school, it is important that instructors are encouraging their students, from when they are a young child, to develop opinions. This does not mean that they have the right to pollute your mind with the traditions and beliefs that they follow, and therefore would like you to follow. This simply means that they are to supply you with valued, unbiased information that is going to encourage you to create your own opinions. As these opinions begin to form, you are given the Freedom of Speech to be able to express them, eloquently, yet respectfully.