On
January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided the
case of Citizens United v. Federal
Election Committee. On January 7, 2015, two Islamic terrorists attacked the
French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and killed 11 people. On February 26,
2015, the Federal Communications Commission voted in favor of net neutrality.
What do these events have in common? At the heart of these events is the
concept of free speech. The idea of free speech is ever-present in our class
and, indeed, our society, yet every day we face challenges to our freedom of
speech.
One
of the greatest defenders of free speech in recent times was the late
polemicist and contrarian, Christopher Hitchens. On January 7, 2007, at the
University of Toronto he debated that the freedom of speech does indeed include
the freedom to hate. In April 2011, the talented author wrote an article
defending free speech for Reader’s Digest. (I have provided links to both the
article and his speech below, and both are very eloquent.) In essence, he
argues that the right to speak freely is also the right to hear different views
discussed. So when one attempts to silence the speech of another, he or she is
essentially restricting the right of everyone else to hear. Of course, free expression
is crucial to democracy and our society’s well-being. Our founding fathers knew
this and the freedom of speech is guaranteed in the foremost amendment to our
Constitution, “Congress shall make no
law… abridging the freedom of speech…” Look at the most tyrannical regimes in
history and in the world and you will find that they all share one thing in
common; they limit expression.
So
when we face calls for limiting speech, remember that it is also your right to
listen that is under attack. And although people may take advantage of this
freedom and may be extremely ill-mannered, there is much more at stake than
offending someone when you limit the freedom of speech. I believe we are
perfectly capable of handling offensive material, but I don’t know anyone
capable of deciding what we can see or hear or read or watch. --Nick Gilbert
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