Do we REALLY have freedom of speech in America?

Question

I know we say we do, but if there are horrible repercusions for stating your beliefs is that really freedom?

okay it was just a question to see what folks say, i've never really had any repurcussions, but others have. i think that's crappy that just because someone says something that you may disagree with that you feel you have to attack them. i know most people aren't that extreme, and i know that if we exercise our freedom of speech that sometimes there will be consequences.

and no cheesehead i wasn't saying YOU were attacking me...chill... i was just saying in general someone makes a comment and someone who disagree's goes on a tyrade.

Answer 1

There's no such thing as complete freedom of speech in any functional society. When it comes down to it, shouting "fire" in a crowded theater just to watch people panic simply can't be allowed. If there are no limits at all, society can't function. However, in the United States, the LEGAL limits on freedom of speech are (for the most part) quite minimal. We have far more LEGAL freedom of speech than many other countries.

However, there is little the government can do to stop private citizens from infringing on other citizens freedom of speech without trampling on the rights of the first citizen. If you have the right to say state your opinion, I absolutely have the right to ridicule you for it. If I don't have that right, then I don't have the freedom to express my opinion, and we don't have freedom of speech. So there can never be a society that ensures freedom of speech without fear of consequences from other citizens without imposing government restrictions on speech, which would negate the free speech it was trying to protect. There can never be true freedom of speech in that there will always be repercussions from one's fellow citizens for stating a controversial opinion.

Answer 2

OK, what are some of these horrible repercussions that you refer to, who has suffered some of these, and when and where has this happened. You have freedom of expression in this country, and no one is denying that freedom to you. Where do people get the notion that our freedoms are under attack? Who stops you from speaking your mind, and what are they doing to you, or what are they threatening you with?

If you are talking about so many people criticizing the government, and then being criticized for disloyalty, that is a stinky kettle of fish. No matter what side of that debate you are on, people will take verbal pot shots at you, so you better get used to it. I hate it when people criticize the President or the government (which they have a right to do, and I would die to defend that right), but yell "Censorship" or "Our Freedom is Under Attack" if anyone dares to challenge or refute their criticism...

You edited your question to include:
"okay it was just a question to see what folks say, i've never really had any repurcussions, but others have. i think that's crappy that just because someone says something that you may disagree with that you feel you have to attack them. i know most people aren't that extreme, and i know that if we exercise our freedom of speech that sometimes there will be consequences."

I repeat - what others, have had repercussions, and what kind of persecution or suffering or even inconvenience did they have? You call what I say an attack, I call it my own free speech, and that is the rub - people can go around saying any sort of thing at all - and that is their free speech. If I refute or challenge that criticism - I am attacking and somehow infringing upon their freedom of speech. That's bull. Too many people are lazy thinkers, do not research their statements and throw crap out there and want it to stand alone - unchallenged. Freedom of speech is a two way conversation, and if you have a right to criticize anything and everything - especially when you do not cite any resources or offer any proof - I have the same right to challenge you and refute what you are saying. That is the basis of our democracy, and it's all about fairness. Free speech is free speech - I would die to defend your right to say stupid, unsupported drivel - but I am not willing to forfeit my right to speak as well. If you have something to say, be willing to support and substantiate, or at least be man enough to accept the criticism.

Answer 3

Freedom of speech doesn't mean you are immune from dealing with the consequences of what you say. If you say something that offends, hurts, frightens or disgusts somebody else, they have an equal right to disagree, stop listening, or respond in kind.

What freedom of speech, means in the USA, is that if a majority of people disagree with you, they CAN'T pass a law or get a government representative to make you shut up unless you are directly threatening them with physical harm.

Of course this is theory, reality is that people try all the time. We need to be constantly vigilant and speak out whenever this happens, regardless of how we feel about the original idea.

Answer 4

Don't take that literally. It means that, to a certain extent, you do have freedom of speech. Of course, there are cases and instances where it may seem like you don't. But compared to some other countries (mainly oppressive ones) we do have a great deal more freedom of speech than them. As an example, if you were to bad mouth our president in front of a police officer or even a Military person, depending on who they were, they would either laugh at you, laugh with you, agree or maybe even debate the issue. Whereas in an oppressive government you would most likely be arrested on the spot and sent to prison, where you could end up dead and nobody would know.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the U.S. is a great country, then again I don't have a lot of experience with other countries, as the U.S. is the only one I have lived in. But I do know that there are certain things in this country that could be changed, as could be said about ANY country in the world.

And to those that enjoy bashing the countries they live in, I have one simple question. Why do you still live there? If it's so bad, leave. There are always ways to leave (unless your in prison).

Answer 5

Being American I have always valued freedom of speech and have had no problem using it. But, since I have worked and lived in the Philippines I am amused at the Philippine people always complaining they do not have freedom of speech when in reality I think they may have more freedom than we do in the U.S.A. Nearly daily you hear some religious leader, politicians, student group, average citizens talk about going to the streets and overthrowing the government. I have often wondered what would happen to us in the U.S.A. if we should make those statements. I think all people should keep in mind that with freedom of speech comes responsibilities.

Answer 6

Your rights end at the tip of my nose. And, that includes 'freedom of speech'. We do not have the right to attack someone verbally unless there is a good reason.

Also, equal rights means just that. Because people have money, they might have the right to buy access in newspapers. The limitations on human rights is to make everyone have equal rights, not give anyone else the right to get around the law or the rights we all enjoy because they have money.

Equal rights means to share equally and may even mean to limit someone else's right to verbally overpower another person due to economics.

To answer your question, yes we have equal rights to freedom of speech. Otherwise we would be living in a dictatorship of the wealthy and powerful. Not fair.

Answer 7

No. Rick Sanchez' freedom of speech became not infringed. the first modification would not require inner most agencies to employ bigots, even with the undeniable fact that. It purely protects a persons' skill to speak their ideas; it would not seem after them from being judged through others for what they say. If Rick Sanchez feels his First modification rights were violated, he can sue CNN for unlawful termination. I doubt he will win, even with the undeniable fact that.

Answer 8

Well, we can't say anything that might incite an overthrow of the government as that would violate the sedition act. people are in psych institutions for political statements they have made in public, and for saying things the court deems delusional (whether they are or not) one thing is for sure, we don't have freedom of volume. no matter what you say, if you say it too loud, you can go to jail.

Answer 9

no, simply because if you happen to say you want to kill some one (jokingly) you can get arrested, if you say racial comments to someone you can get arrested, if you talk to your coworkers in a kinda a way you cna get filed for sexual harrrasment. Simply put we don't really have freedom of speech.

Answer 10

I say what ever I want and deal with any consequence.