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AP government research project
Elena Kassa
AP Gov./ 1st hour
Research project
THESIS: The first amendment of the constitution of the United States protects our right to freedom of speech. However, the freedom to speak should not entitle the speaker to purposely hurt another person by revealing private matters or spreading rumors and lies.
Argument #1:Should the first amendment protect hate speech? No, it should not protect hate speech. There are numerous lines drawn around our free speech already, and most Americans feel they are justified. For example, one cannot falsely yell “Fire” in the middle of a crowded theater. Just because we can say something, it doesn’t mean we should.
Citation: Alexander Tsesis, “Dignity and Speech: The Regulation of
Hate Speech in a Democracy,” 44 Wake Forest L. Rev. 497, 502 (2009).
Summary: In this source it uses the example about yelling “Fire” in a crowded theater as to explain how the restrictions of government as enumerated in the Constitution are not absolute, are outdated, and sometimes just wrong. It states that arresting someone for falsely yelling fire in a crowded theater does not violate the 1st amendment in any way. It can, and should be a crime without freedom of speech having ever been infringed upon
Application to the thesis: Trying to hurt people purposely ties in with the whole example about yelling “Fire” in a crowded theater. Free speech does nothing but promote hate, violence, and greed in this society and in this case my source does a pretty well job at supporting my argument and my thesis because it ties the whole idea of violence in together.
Elena Kassa
AP Gov./ 1st hour
Research project
THESIS: The first amendment of the constitution of the United States protects our right to freedom of speech. However, the freedom to speak should not entitle the speaker to purposely hurt another person by revealing private matters or spreading rumors and lies.
Argument #1: Should the first amendment protect hate speech? No, it should not
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