Abel Fields Free Speech

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Today I’m here to express my views on the U.S. vs. Fields a very distinct and intriguing case that involves the topic of free speech. First we have the defendant Abel Fields who was convicted under the Stolen Valor Act, after Mr. Fields portrayed himself claiming that he had “military experience” claiming he had a Purple Heart, also the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, and even the Air force cross. This made him believe that it gave him the right to speak with authority on the issues but these claims were false. Abel Fields appealed his decision to the court, stating that he viewed the Stolen Valor Act as unconstitutional and believes that his right to the first amendment was being violated. Field’s prosecutors argue that even though Mr. Fields …show more content…
I’ve notice that sometimes there a very big controversial topics and different interpretations of current events and outlook on things. I personally think we have the right to express how we feel we as people have no right to stop someone from expressing their views or opinions just because we may not have similar perspectives. Can we really say we’re free if we can’t express ourselves and say how we feel or view things? Although we should present our ideas without harm or malice towards others we should have the right to state how we view and feel different topics. Like in previous cases like the N.Y. Times Publishing vs. Sullivan when the N.Y. Times posted an ad claiming that Montgomery police force had done some misdeeds towards the community, but these accusations were made off of unconfirmed facts. The commissioner of the police force, Commissioner Sullivan sued the newspaper company but the court ruled that the press could not be convicted unless there’s proof of bad intentions. Another example is the Texas vs. Johnson case the defendant Gregory Johnson was convicted for disrespecting the American flag by burning it, during the time there are laws in Texas that make this behavior a crime. Johnson pleaded towards the conviction; he felt the law was unconstitutional and said that the government cannot restrict the freedom to speak or express ourselves, although

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