Roger Rosenblatte On Freedom Of Speech

We the people, may speak in any manner appearing satisfactory to needs and wants due to our possession of the freedom of speech. Although this statement may portray itself as accurate and truthful; in fact, the entire idea feeds from common misconceptions. A vast measure of Americans hold dearly to a distant from reality view on the rights and freedoms delivered to new generations as an invaluable heirloom. The uninhibited freedom to speak falls prey to limitations bound by diction chosen to define its mechanics encompassing intended capabilities. Therefore, when Americans begin ranting with ideas ranging from brilliant philosophies to lunatic conspiracies through the facade of entirely free speech, numerous times the results prove unbecoming
Therefore, not only would one right be constrained but also multitudes of additional rights would be subjugated. Forms of language and communication assume quintessential roles in nearly all functionings underwent in the country including protecting other rights. When Roger Rosenblatt commenced composing his essay he traveled abroad to find legitimization for his reasonings, recalling that, “it has been instructive for me to spend time in places where freedom was limited” (502).He unearthed the tragic implications of relations lacking free speech and the real terrors that can commence when he attempted to evacuate a hotel in Tbilisi. The clerk told him, “that another, more fluent, clerk would be along shortly… “Would you mind coming back in fifteen years?”” (Rosenblatt 503). The sheer atrocity of this innocently disguised question comes from the honesty in which it was spoken, Mr. Rosenblatt very probably could have been held in the hotel for fifteen years because when his ability to correspond disappeared so did his ability to protect himself. How could Americans defend and preserve the liberties promised if they lose one of the most significant weapons of defense they possess? In recent years, citizens have experienced such difficulties; one business fighting a case of eminent
As Roger Rosenblatt endured in countries of constrained inhabitants, “the secret publication of books, the pirated music, the tricky subversive lines of poetry read at vast gatherings of tens of thousands. And the below the surface comedy” (503) will continuously arise no matter the discouragement present. In a country founded on its freedoms, the retraction of any of those privileges will be met with extreme adversity. Moreover, “since free is the way people's minds were made to be” (Rosenblatt 502) the restriction of verbal expression will only cause riots and outrage. Currently, various universities and colleges have faced the backlash of unjust speech limitations on their campuses. One student attending a college in Arizona prepares to sue the school for, “her school’s so-called “speech zone,” arguing the policy “severely limited” her right to free speech and due process” (Harkness). Reactions to a decrease in the liberty to speak freely induces immediate retaliation and hardship, in addition, to being entirely unnecessary. To keep the peace and stability, the United States must keep the freedom of speech as it was intended to be used, freely. Overall, as Roger Rosenblatt stated and explained in his article defending the freedom of speech, the United States must not procreate censorship of any greater extent on its citizen’s voices. In fact, “The Founding Fathers