Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Freedom of Speech Final Paper

            Within the United States, we have the Amendments in the Bill of Rights for each
individual in the United States. From first amendment Freedom of Religion, Speech, and the
Press, to the last amendment Undelegated Power kept by the States and the People is within the
US Constitution. I’ll be talking about the Freedom of Speech the first amendment. Not only how
important it is but how it is endangered by individuals that are abusing it and censoring others
views in violence. What is the definition of freedom of speech? The right which is guaranteed in
the first Amendment in the U.S. Constitution to express belief and ideas without unwarranted by
government restriction.
           
            All over the United States alone there has been controversies between free speech & hate
speech. Hate speech has become such a huge discussion as of lately. What is the definition of
Hate Speech? A speech in which is expressed hatred towards a particular group of
people.(“Merriam-Webster dictionary”) Is Hate speech protected under freedom of speech? No
it is not protected by freedom of speech. Within an article in the New York Times explains a talk
with Natalie Shutler over a book by Howard Gullman. (“Free Speech-Hate Speech Trade-Off
The New York Times”.) Here’s another example: The huge NFL (National Football League) talk
is the not saluting the flag. It not protected by free speech. Thanks to the court case of West
Virginia Board of Education vs Barnette.

Then we have those that wish disavow anyone’s freedom of speech. Those that have been
doing this, is individuals in groups such as Antifa, BLM (Black Lives Matter). It’s not the whole
group but just a selected few that would go out of their way to try to prove with violence and
saying it is supported by free speech in the long run it’s not. Look at what happened within the
University of California Berkeley. Individuals like Ben Shapiro, and Milo Yiannopoulos have
been attacked cause the shutdown free speech week. During “Free Speech Week” a group of
students were planning it at the University but the mayor canceled it before it took place. (“The
Washington post article UC-Berkeley Free Speech Week canceled.”) Large amounts of damage
were the result of the protest.

            Again it’s not the whole group it’s only a small group of individuals that would go out of
their way to censor someone else’s objective ideas and views. We have the same thing in the art
world. We have both Norman Rockwell and Shepard Fairey. Both have done heavy political art
pieces. Here’s a little back story on both of these artist. Norman Rockwell was born in New York
and was talented at a young age. He received his first commission at the age of 17. All of his
images were loved by the public but not by critics. Norman Rockwell’s reason for his art work is
because it was grounded of the world around him.

            Then we have the latest topic of free speech. Theirs the whole NFL (National Football League) protest.  It’s where professional players did not stand for the national anthem. As employees to a company professional athletes don’t have the first amendment right to protest at games. The first amendment applies to a matter of law only government action takes place. It’s up to the Teams owners to take action against the players. Free speech isn’t just a legal guarantee it’s civil right. We don’t really care if our speech, or the speech of someone we want to listen to, is suppressed by the government as opposed to private action. What we care about is getting to speak and listen. That’s what the players have done in the NFL. They may not be protected by the first amendment, but its matter of free speech in general. NFL owners don’t have to respect the players protest but they know that many individuals that sees it would be upset if the protest was suppressed.

            There a rule to support this. The National Anthem must be played prior to every NFL game, and all players must be on the sideline for the National Anthem. During the National Anthem, players on the field and bench area should stand at attention, face the flag, hold helmets in their left hand, and refrain from talking. The home team should ensure that the American flag is in good condition. It should be pointed out to players and coaches that we continue to be judged by the public in this area of respect for the flag and our country. Failure to be on the field by the start of the National Anthem may result in discipline, such as fines, suspensions, and/or the forfeiture of draft choice(s) for violations of the above, including first offenses.

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