Freedom of speech, or just too far?

Question

Do you believe that racist-based groups (such as the KKK and others) should be allowed to perform demonstrations out in public? What about in private settings? Since everyone does have the natural right to 'freedom of speech,' do you think these groups should be punished? When does the right to freedom of speech go too far?

Answer 1

"Freedom of Speech" doesn't mean freedom from the consequences of your speech. If your speech causes damage, then you should have to pay for that damage.

The tricky part is when your speech is LIKELY to cause harm (ie, yelling "fire" in a crowded theater), and there might be some gray area here, but generally speaking this speech isn't allowed.

I think that those with reprehensible speech should be allowed, but in a way where the only damage that it causes is to show the speaker to be the idiot they really are.

The cure for reprehensible speech isn't less free speech, but rather, more free speech.

Answer 2

Well when the whole freedom of speech thing was written they had no idea how far things would go. People back then had a strong sense of right and wrong and therefore it would not have been a problem. Now what we have to deal with is people who have no common sense and push things way past the limit of what was envisioned. While I agree we should be afforded the freedom of speech I think it also carries with it some responsibility that people should be held accountable for. There really is no perfect answer for this.

Answer 3

According to our constitution freedom of speech goes too far when it insites others into violence or breaking the law. Even though I don't agree with them, there are people out there that don't agree with me either. The beauty of freedom of speech is that we can all express our views. No one has the right to tell you what to believe and you would resent it if they did. As long as they are not being violent, and having a peaceful demonstration - they should not be punished. The KKK is a visable group. There are many, many other hate mongering groups out there - they are all stupid and ridiculous! But we have the right to say so. Imagine if we didn't. Think Nazi Germany......

Answer 4

bill of rights
Amendment I
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.
it has held well and good for hundreds of years so why change it now? people will always have something to say about anything and the government needs to protect its self and the citizens of which have given it power and placed it into office. Its when the speakers become violent or infringes on others "civil rights" that is when it becomes a problem and the law takes it into there hands on basis of the groups actions not its speech.

Answer 5

You brought a very interesting question. Caroline Kennedy addressed something similar in her book about the bill of rights,
(In Our Defense, written together with Ms. Alderman). Addressing the issue of the freedom of speech guaranteed by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, she gave the following example. There was a KKK radio station in one of the major cities. Many citizen wanted to close the station and bombarded the city council with numerous letters, petitions and telephone calls. To close the station the decision of the city council should be unanimous. Everybody voted to close the KKK radio station, except one lonely city council woman who was black. She was talked to, received threatening letters, but did not deviate from her original decision. She said that however much she disliked the KKK and their radio station, she had to vote against the closing because they operated within the frame of the law and closing them would be a clear violation of the first amendment.

Hopefully, this answered your question.

The freedom of speech goes too far when characters like KKK members stop talking and start putting their perverted, hateful ideas into action.

Answer 6

Actually the KKK was declared an illegal terrorist organization, so they are not allowed to publicly demonstrate.

But I see what you are saying. It gets dangerous when you start restricting what people can and cannot say. It would start of by saying that it is illegal to say racial slurs, then that it is illegal to say things that offend people, later it becomes illegal to say things that criticize the government. Before you know it you have no free speech at all, and find yourself looking over your shoulder before you say anything.

I believe that the freedom of speech having such loose restrictions, while inherently allowing racist to say their hate, serves a greater good in keeping Democracy.

Answer 7

demonstrations and displays of freedom of speech are protected as constitutional rights, and in spite of some distasteful choices made under this umbrella, all are viewed as equal when it comes to such protection. as long as it is only "speech" that is being protected, there shouldn't be any difficulty. just ignore those who preach crap. the same tolerance simply cannot be applied to any actions that cross the line from freedom of speech to freedom of movement, whether physical intimidation, bodily harm, or property destruction. i think those detestable actions need to fall under the "freedom to be shot for being an idiot" act.

Answer 8

They should absolutely have that right. If we take it from them, it's no different than taking it from the groups that are the victims of these people's hate demonstrations.

There is no "too far" with the freedom of speech. Either it's all ok or none of it is.

The key to quieting these groups is to exercise the right to peacefully protest.

Answer 9

While I do not agree with those sorts of groups stance on the way things ought to be, freedom of speech applies even to speech that is disgusting and detestable in your opinion. You have to take the good with the bad.

Answer 10

i agree that there needs to be a certain amount of personal restraint .. but it should be up to the individual .. once u start knocking down the freedom of speech, before u know it ur getting arrested for calling someone any name or offending them ... trust me, theres forces that want to regulate what everyone says .. the so-called "hate-bills" ... we dont need thought police in this country .. i'd rather deal with the bigots ..