Human Liberty and Freedom of Speech - Essay Example

Freedom of Speech Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental freedoms that are enshrined in the constitution. It has abasis from the highest form of law in the land and as a result, there is a need for every institution to uphold the properties and methods that show adherence to freedom of speech. However, there are prejudices that exist in the society and institution that either are accrued from accurate information or are based on bias. It is therefore important to strike a balance between the freedom of speech and what the institutions allow and society and the prejudicial arguments made. Prejudicial arguments are present in a pluralist society since there are some distinctions that are derived by the people towards specific groups and societies. It is clear that since people have their own opinions there are high chances that the information or freedom given to the groups may raise high levels of biasness and prejudiced arguments. There are many groups that exist and as a result, it is impossible to live in an environment where the rights of freedom of speech are protected and yet there are rules on prejudicial arguments in the society. This paper will seek to highlight the fact that freedom of speech has been detrimentally affected by prejudicial arguments and also a change of culture and religion in the present society and colleges. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right and freedom that is protected by the first amendment of the American Constitution. In a bid to protect the rights and freedoms of people in the society especially the political freedoms the first amendment ensures that the people are protected to give their views and inclinations within the society. The protection by the constitution means that the people therefore need to adhere to the set conditions and properties that are protected in the constitution. Every citizen therefore has a right to speak out and give their independent views without fear of any negative repercussions that may plague them in future. It is therefore important for the society and institutions in particular to ensure that they raise the bar and meet the demands of the constitution through giving a chance to every individual to give their views. Freedom of speech allows a society that is built on honesty and understanding to co-exist and there are no problems that are raised and end up unattended. This does not however succeed without raising its own problems and there is a need for a balance to be struck if any possibility a good society to be raised. Institutions in America have been the main stations where freedom of speech has taken root and controlled all the properties of the community. This is mainly because students contribute largely to the society and country as a whole. It is therefore important for students to ensure that they have given independent views and opinions in matters affecting them and other citizens in the society. However, there have been instances where the people that have differing views from the known political mind-set are shunned and their ideas raise problems for them within the campus (Morris 102). This major problem has seen many students shy away from giving information and opinions in the society a factor that is increasingly shaping the political arena within colleges. This is however not in line with the fundamental rights and freedoms and as a result, there are increased controls. Many critics have changed the methods that they use to critic the society. The critics are changing their tactics and have opted for better methods that will not draw them into problems in the institution (Melkonian 166). The people are taking a more conservative approach to issues in the society and in the institutions. It is becoming apparent that the conservative speakers are finding it easier in the institutions since there are no objections and controversial topics that they differ from the trend in the institutions (Barendt 187). It is therefore important for the students to ensure that they are not tied up by the trends in order to make sure that the information that they give helps the people and other students in general (Levy 96). There is however an increased level of communication and delivery of messages that has increased the level of awareness. Conservatives are finding it easier but this does not give the complete story ad there are more problems that can be identified in the process (Baker 79). It is therefore critical for the students to ensure that they can give their opinions more freely if there is any chance of the society and institution benefitting from their input. However, due to the increased number in the factors that are considered for a topic or opinion to be deemed appropriate it is becoming more difficult for students to convey their messages. Prejudicial arguments that are not based on any form of factual representation have also been a problem in the institutions. There is an increased feeling that the students need to base their information on facts and not give information that is unsubstantiated. Many issues are considered to be currently raising controversy within the society. Issues such as homophobia, tribalism, racism and religious difference have been a cause for concern in the society (Helwig 61).It is therefore important to ensure that the people can give information based on factual statements. The statements can be substantiated and therefore there is a high level of credibility and sense from the statements that are given in the process. The institutions are insisting that there is a need for substantiated claims and assertions that are only biased or based on opinions by a specific member of the society have no bearing or place in the institutions (Erskine 81). This has therefore hindered the process of freedom of speech in the society since the students may have no basis for the claims that they make. There are very controversial issues that need to be effectively controlled since some of the assertions made may be breaching the freedoms or beliefs of others in the society. There is a need to generate as much evidence as possible for any form of information that is given in order to have the required backing that may help the story or opinion given. The continued insistence by the society for a controlled and proper backed up stories has created a god society but has also been critical in reducing the level of freedom in the society. There is no chance that people may find the backing and support for their opinions and therefore asserting for stories to have the back up of evidence is dilapidating to the current freedoms (Helwig 47). There is however, more methods that can be used to search for the backup required and these avenues need to be completely assessed before an individual can publicly critic or support a specific platform (Barendt 182). The need for evidence is critically hindering the freedoms and rights of people to speak out their ideas. It is important to note that there is no data or information that exists to support all the ideas that people have. It is therefore impossible to draw evidence or information for the different aspects that one may give as a topic in the society (Streeter 100). There are opinions that originate after critical assessment and deliberation by an individual and therefore there can be no evidence or backup to support the opinion. These ideas are blocked out by the information given and are critical to every individual since they act as a basis for any future deliberations on the same subject. The increasing numbers of issues that have ravaged the society have also been a major reason for the increase in the level of infringement of freedoms for the society. Many groups need their rights protected in every institution since there is increasing number of groups in the society. Religion and culture has transformed and the number of aspects that are currently being controlled by the people are increasing on a daily basis (Deegan 93). It has therefore become critical for institutions to control the content that is discussed by the students based on the protection of rights against any prejudicial arguments. There are many opinions that can be asserted by people depending on the aspects since the society is controlled by pluralism. The society has its own method of viewing different aspects and the majority are usually believed to have the required quorum to pass a specific view. However, there is a need to ensure that the rights of minority in the society are also maintained and there can be no form of prejudice against these groups. People have different ideas based on religion and culture and there is no person that has a right to criticize others based on these distinctions (Barendt 197). It is therefore important for the society to ensure that it culminates all the rights and freedoms of people in the society and protects each person’s freedoms and rights in the process. However, it is impossible to draw a line along these distinctions and therefore the institutions have to compromise. The institutions are however doing away with the prejudicial statements and comments that are made in order to reduce the level of control that has to be propagated from these effects in the society. The control by the institutions has been critical in ensuring that people can manage and control the level of controversial arguments and statements in the society (Streeter 84). The control therefore has seen a shift in the level of freedom that is given to students and the society as a whole since there has to be a proper structure to protect everyone. In conclusion, it is evident that institutions are not as vibrant as in the past due to the high number of restrictions that have been set by the society and institutions. The increase in the number of groups that have their rights protected has also been a contributing factor to the change in the level of freedom of speech allowed in institutions. Although it was initially used in political matters in the society, there have been other sensitive aspects that have changed thereby causing a high level of tension in the freedoms allowed. Freedom of speech has been eroded and unless there is, a method that is used to strike a better balance the same is deemed to continue. Works Cited Baker, Edwin. Human liberty and freedom of speech. New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print. Barendt, Eric M. Freedom of speech. Oxford [Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, 2009. Print. Deegan, Paul J. Freedom of speech. Minneapolis: Abdo &Daughters, 2008. Print. Erskine, Hazel. "The Polls: Freedom of Speech." Public Opinion Quarterly (2010):. Web. . Helwig, Charles C. "Adolescents and Young Adults Conceptions of Civil Liberties: Freedom of Speech and Religion." Child Development (2005): Web. . Helwig, Charles  C. "The Role of Agent and Social Context in Judgments of Freedom of Speech and Religion." Child Development (2007): Web. . Levy, Leonard W. Legacy of suppression: Freedom of speech and press in early American history. Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2009. Print. Melkonian, Harry. Freedom of speech and society: A social approach to freedom of expression. Amherst, NY: Cambria Press, 2012. Print. Morris, A. A., University of Washington, and Washington State School Law Seminar. First amendment constitutional rights and the schools: A students constitutional rights to freedom of the mind ; to freedom of and from religion ; to freedom of speech ; to freedom of press ; to freedom of petition ; and to freedom of assembly. Seattle, WA: University of Washington, 2006. Print. Streeter, Thomas. "Beyond Freedom of Speech and the Public Interest: The Relevance of Critical Legal Studies to Communications Policy." Journal of Communication (2010): 40(2) 43–63. Read More