Freedom of Expression Is Vital to a Free Society Essay...

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states, â€Å"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.† Does this mean that freedom of speech cannot be prohibited in any way? Are there any reasonable arguments for limiting speech? In this paper, these questions will be examined along with a discussion of where the basic right of free speech originated. Today, society or government can attempt to regulate speech, but it cannot prevent it if a person is within the parameters of his or her constitutional rights.†¦show more content†¦The second point by Domino concerning freedom of expression was the issue of symbolic and offensive speech. The conduct of this type of speech does not necessarily involve oral or written communication of a p olitical nature or a particular set of ideas (48). Domino contends that, â€Å"Constitutional rights are possible only when there is some means of promoting and enforcing the obligations of others to respect our right† (50). Furthermore, in relationship to offensive speech are Domino’s third and fourth points of racist speech and hate speech, which often produce a negative or a violent reaction in people (66). The Supreme Court has said, â€Å"The First Amendment permits the government to prohibit offensive speech as intrusive when the ‘captive’ audience cannot avoid the objectionable speech†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (72). In other words, a person simply wanting to do or say whatever they want is not necessarily permitted if it becomes an infringement upon someone else’s personal rights. Domino’s last point is certainly the most controversial topic associated with freedom of expression. With the issue of competing rights, especially the subject of abort ion, the challenge becomes between society’s interest in safety and public order and someone’s constitutional rights (81). The Supreme Court has recognized that the right of free speech includes the right to persuade others to change their viewpoint. The message is permitted even if it may be offensive to the recipientShow MoreRelatedStudies in Contemporary Literature: Free Speech1622 Words   |  7 Pagesother controlling bodies (Wikipedia, 1). This can be done by governments and private organizations or by individuals who engage in self-censorship which is the act of censoring or classifying one’s own work like blog, books, films, or other means of expression, out of the fear of, or deference to, the sensibilities of others, without overt pressure from any specific party or institution of authority. Censorship occurs in a variety of different contexts including speech, books, music, films, and otherRead MoreThe Media As A Valuable Outlet For Free Expression16 65 Words   |  7 PagesThe social media as a valuable outlet for free expression Introduction The communications and media landscape is experiencing a profound and fast transformation. There is a possibility of describing the evolution and development of new technologies as enterprising and open. The internet comprises of the considered technological developments, which is the latest outlet that a considerable number of people in the world can access and use to communicate (Maras 3). Just as other technologies before itRead MoreEssay Costs and benefits of free speech and press826 Words   |  4 PagesFreedom of speech and press, or freedom of expression, are fundamental rights. Without these freedoms a truly free society cannot exist. By definition, they allow the citizens to communicate their ideas both verbally and in print. 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An artist holds responsibility to maintain the balance between certain boundaries of violating societies respectRead MoreDefinition Of Media Freedom Of Expression Under Article 10 Of The Human Rights Act And The European Convention On1676 Words   |  7 PagesChapter 3 - Explanation of Media Freedom of Expression under Article 10 of the Human Rights Act and the European Convention on Human Rights On the 2nd October 2000, the Human Rights Act 1998 came into force as the most important privacy statute to further strengthen the UK domestic law by affording the rights introduced by the European Convention on Human Rights. The HRA 1998 have been introduced with a wide and comprehensive scope as it applies to most domestic public authorities and bodies including:Read MoreNgos And Freedom Of Expression1719 Words   |  7 Pages NGOs and Freedom of Expression NGOs are significant actors in defending the human right to freedom of expression worldwide. 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