REASONS FOR LIMITATIONS ON FREE SPEECH Essay Example

will likely ask them to leave. By restricting their freedom of speech in this situation, the theater protects the rights of those who came to enjoy the film. American courts have ruled that falsely shouting "fire" in a theater is not protected by freedom of speech because it creates immediate and clear danger (Stone, Seidman). Thus, freedom of speech cannot be abused. There are times when it becomes necessary for the government to prioritize citizen safety—especially during wartime. One historical instance was when Congress implemented the Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798; this made inciting rebellion against the established government a criminal offense (Microsoft "Speech,Freedomof").This text highlights the limitations on freedom of speech and the role of censorship in movies, music, and books. Some states have even removed specific books from libraries, like Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer due to offensive language towards the black community. This raises controversy about the boundaries of freedom of speech. Governments should exercise caution when limiting this right as oppressive regimes like communism demonstrate how society suffers when free expression is restricted. For example, Cuba prohibits negative comments about the government, giving them complete control over their people. However, individuals will always value their freedom of speech in a true society.

While freedom of speech is valuable in a democratic society, it is important to establish certain boundaries. It is unreasonable for someone to use offensive language publicly without consequences. Misusing this right to attack others without evidence goes against its purpose. Freedom of speech should not be used to incite fights or rebellions. The government has implemented measures to prevent such abuses of this right.The text below discusses the topic

of freedom of speech and includes references to various sources such as Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, and Constitutional Law by Geoffrey R. Stone and Robert H. Seidman.

(WORKS CITED: Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia, Volume 7, R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company. "Speech, Freedom of," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia. (c) Microsoft Corporation 1993-1997. Stone, Geoffrey R.; Seidman, Robert H. Constitutional Law, 2nd Boston: Little Brown & Company, 1991.)