Freedom of Speech
The definition of free speech and the protections that it deserves vary from individual to individual and from group to group. Many people base their different beliefs on speech on the provisions of the First Amendment. The wording of the Amendment is very clear, stating that Congress can make no law abridging the freedom of speech; however, later amendments and different interpretations can cause confusion about the freedom. Somewhere along the line the right to free speech also became the right to never be offended, enticed, or caused to act by other's words. Racist and hate speech seem to cause the most controversy. The words are used with the intention of hurting and belittling, but do the words cause justified actions? Many people believe that they do, and that expressions of hate should not be protected. I disagree. Language is a very powerful thing, and because of that it is appropriate for enticing and offensive phrases to be protected. The guarantee of free speech has never been very clear. Free Speech can be broadly defined as the right to say whatever you want, whenever and wherever you want to. There are many reasonable limitations on this freedom, such as the law against yelling Fire! in a crowded public
If it was not, language would lose its special distinction and meaning, the homo sapiens sapiens would lose their hierarchy as the only species with such effective means of communication, and all the pages of all the great books of the world would become censored and worthless. Lakoff and the people who agree with her could not be more wrong. Can a racial slur uttered cause a riot, can a hateful comment cause a fight? No, but the people using the words can, through their separate actions, reactions, and use of expression. Robin Lakoff states: "If we believe that words are not world changing, we are apt to be comfortable with an interpretation of the First Amendment that permits much more freedom of speech. Ok, so we have established that words can indirectly cause detrimental actions, what now? Do we rid the language of hateful and racist language, and punish individuals who continue to use it? The answer to these questions is also no. It is my belief in free speech that makes me see hate speech and racial slurs as protected expressions, they may be bad expressions, but the interpretations are so broad and different that limitations are often unreasonable. A society where everyone's expression is controlled is not apt to be diverse in any way. If anything, the belief that words are powerful should force people to permit much more freedom of speech. The pen is mightier than the sword. Words are world changing, powerful and strong, they are meant to be. Therefore, the very diversity protected by the restrictions can be lost.
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