Persuasive Essay On Free Speech Should Be Protected

Improved Essays
Imagine not being able to say what you want, everything censored and being punishments for stating your opinion. In America you have the freedom of speech so maybe it is something you are not worried about. There was a time in our history when speaking your mind could get you punished. Throughout time things have changed and people have fought to protect and increase the meaning of free speech. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) effectively argues that the Freedom of speech must be protected. With the strong use of ethos and pathos they were able to effectively persuade the audience into believing that they should be fighting for their freedom of speech. The American Civil Liberties Union’s article titled Free Speech Must Be Protected was extremely compelling. The way the article is set up was very effective in drawing in the audience. The ACLU starts off the article by stating and making clear the rights citizens are guaranteed by the first amendment. By stating the constitution in the first paragraph they helped clarify what is rights one has as well as giving readers an idea of what the argument is going to be about. …show more content…
They start off the argument by talking about how the nation’s freedom of expression has been tested over the years. They mentioned how in times of stress the nation has attempted to reduce citizen’s right to expression. This is brilliantly added into the article because it gets the readers to question whether it could happen again as well as personal thoughts on what to do if it happens. By opening up the mind and getting the reader to think “oh no it can happen to us” the author has pulled in the attention of the reader making them want to know how the situations were dealt with as well as the

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Freedom of speech has always been a topic of conversation on whether or not we really have it, or it’s portrayed like we do so the American people can be content. There is plenty of proof on the fact that our freedom of speech is actually being taken away from us. Even now as our generation is more open minded, it doesn’t mean that we allow for anyone to have what they think is right, heard. Then whenever we question that our right is being taken away, we are meant with critiques that we are just babies and Liberal snowflakes that don’t really know what it is to not have freedom of speech. There are cases like with what happened with the San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, which was taking a stand by kneeling during the national anthem as a way to protest against…

    • 1474 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Freedom of expression is a uniquely American tradition, at least to the extent we have here. Amy Witherbee, a researcher who studies how democracy and censorship go hand and hand said “At the core of censorship is always a parallel belief in the ability of an idea to alter lives and change nations. The challenge is to let those ideas wreak their havoc, and trust in our capacity as the citizens of a democracy to make of the damage something better than what was there before. If, on the other hand, we close down the arguments, retract the controversies, and avoid the challenges, then what we have is not a real democracy, but a nation afraid to lead itself” (Witherbee Par. 12). The First amendment is in place to protect citizens from censorship.…

    • 1855 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Having Free Speech is the basic right that Americans have, it is the ability to speaks one’s mind and ideas. Theres are many benefits to having the ability to project ideas without censorship. Caleb Yong author of “Does Freedom of Speech Include Hate Speech?” argues that the liberal justice has a special protection against the restriction of speech and expression, he calls it “Free Speech Principle” where it includes its “sensitivity to the distinction between coverage and protection (Yong)” that the speech should be monitored. Hate speech is too broad to single out the negative effect that it can have in any group. The main concept of this article includes the four categories that hate speech can be set in.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    What is Freedom of Speech? The Merriam-Webster dictionary define freedom of speech as “the right to express facts and opinions subject only to reasonable limitations (as the power of the government to protect itself from a clear and present danger) guaranteed by the 1st and 14th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and similar provisions of some state constitutions”. Freedom of speech is ones right to say what you please without fear of being punished, is among one of the most treasured freedoms throughout America. The founders of the United States government tried to protect our liberty by assuring a free press, to gather and publish information without being under control or power of another, in the First Amendment to the Constitution. As we know, the Supreme Court plays an important role in the subject of free speech and expression, and we need to understand that…

    • 641 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In this case freedom of speech becomes a problem because it supports civil disobedience. People who practice civil disobedience tends to get incarcerated, since they don not follow the law. Therefore, order is consider to be more important in society than justice. Civil disobedience…

    • 204 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The freedom to speech is very important to many Americans. However, many wonder if some speech should be prohibited especially while online. This is because it is harming, slandering, or hateful. The best way to evaluate this issue is through Deontology. This is because every American has a right to free speech, according to the constitution, they also have duties and consequences that come with being able to say whatever they want.…

    • 764 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The First Amendment states “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.” The establishment of the Amendment allows for the prevention of Censorship by the Government. Censorship by the government would take away a large amount of rights for all people. The First Amendment is important as it allows for freedom of expression in entertainment, speech, and politics. The government is trying to censor Television shows from kids.…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The first amendment of the constitution is the right of free speech; throughout our history the first amendment has been interpreted in a number of ways. Despite this fact all Americans agree that this is one of our most important rights, and lays the foundation for our nations core beliefs. The first amendment is a short statement “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.” (1) Though it holds a great deal of power, it upholds strong personal values, and sets a precedent for the future of our country.…

    • 1249 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Our Founding Fathers established the foundation of our country considering the diversity among the people- a nation of immigrants. Settlers came to the New World to escape religious persecution, a corrupted government, financial turmoil, or just to establish a better way of life and pursue a desirable quality of living. The people of this nation fought for what they presumed, and later declared, as their natural rights as human beings; “[t]he sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments, or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of the divinity itself; and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power” (Hamilton). The First Amendment is important to protect…

    • 951 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Should free speech be Restricted for Teachers and Students? Teachers and students have a right to freedom of speech. All people have a say in things on what they believe is wrong. Freedom of speech gives people that right to express any opinions without restraint whether it’s about school uniforms, trigger warnings, and posting stuff online about your school. Free speech should not be restricted for teachers and students because one the First Amendment which gives people the right to speak their minds and two people should be honest with themselves.…

    • 690 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The First Amendment was originally adopted into the Constitution in 1791 along with the other Bill Rights. Included into the First Amendment is freedom of speech, to press, to petition, to religion, and to assemble. This amendment protects our five basic freedoms and is the cornerstone of our democracy. It provides us with the protection we need to be able to freely express ourselves and to develop our own beliefs, but with every good thing comes limits. The limits put on the First Amendment are fine and no changes should be made.…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The right to having free speech is one of the basic human rights that pretty much everybody knows firsthand. Some people abuse this right, and some use it just right! Freedom of expression is super important because it enables the public to participate in the decision making spectrum of society with free range of information and ideas. Without this, people would be unable to make informed decisions, and things would be complete and utter chaos. The framers of the United States Constitution probably thought that through, which is why we even have the first amendment freedom of speech.…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The topic of free speech on college campuses currently has been a huge hot button issue in the media, especially in the United States. The controversy this topic brings is deeply rooted in the history of not only higher education, but in the history of the development of this country. Often people are all for freedom of speech, until someone speaks out against them (as a person) or one of their core beliefs. In an effort to give full disclosure here, I believe that I should state that directly after I completed my undergraduate degree I did apply and got into Law School. While I decided not to attend Law School, I do believe that the courses I took on Pre-Law and Constitutional Law had a profound impact on my beliefs.…

    • 750 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to the Scholastic Children’s Dictionary, the definition of freedom is “ The right to do and say what you like.” In America, everyone is given the freedom of speech, religion, petitioning, assembly, and press. Debates have been going on for the last few years whether or not citizens are really given all of these freedoms. In my opinion, the statement that all Americans are “free,” is not true. Yes, Americans do have some freedoms, but in my eyes freedom is controlled and only given to a certain extent.…

    • 579 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    In many countries, hate speech has had laws set against it because they believe that it leads to violence, but in the United States it is considered a form of free speech so it is allowed with no limits. As part of the Constitution, freedom of speech is sometimes used so that people are allowed to express their opinions and say as they pleased. Many Americans want to ban hate speech from being a part of the First Amendment because they believe that it causes and provokes violence against others. Others want to defend their rights as citizens and be allowed to express their opinions with each other without being afraid that they might get fined or put in jail because someone didn’t like what they said and got offended. Hate speech should be…

    • 1733 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays