Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech

  • Submitted By: dreamlov20
  • Date Submitted: 07/15/2014 1:22 PM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 1483
  • Page: 6
  • Views: 3

The Freedom of Speech or The Freedom of Equality
College is a time when most individuals are experiencing major changes and begin to explore new perspectives. The key factors in changing the perspective of an individual are the transition in becoming more independent, creating new insights and peer influence. Students are faced with new ideas from their professors, family and fellow peers. Through that acquired knowledge many students decide that they either agree or disagree with the perspectives that they are taught. However, allowing the right of ‘Free Speech’ on public college campuses has become an important issue that many colleges are starting to address.
In recent years, a rise in verbal abuse and violence directed at people of color, lesbians, and gay men, and other historically persecuted groups has plagued the United States. Among the settings of these expressions of intolerance are college and university campuses, where bias incidents have occurred occasionally since the mid-1980's. The Feeling of outrage and demand for a change might be the common responses to these incidents. Many universities, under pressure to respond to the concerns of those who are the objects of hate, have adopted codes or policies prohibiting speech that offends any group based on race gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation. That's the wrong response, well-meaning or not. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects speech no matter how offensive its content.
Similar argument regarding the First Amendment brought up in Susan Jacoby’s article, “First Amendment Junkie,” the issue of censorship and what is viewed as pornographic is still being debated in contemporary America. This issue has caused great concern for feminists and First Amendment proponents alike. On one side of the arguments are absolutists who believe free speech should never be restricted, no matter vulgar. On the other side there are those who believe that obscene speech...

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