The Regulation Of Freedom Of Speech - 1256 Words

Rome, which was one of the strongest ancient empires, had worshipped a god named Janus. Romans believed that Janus protected their beginnings, gates and time; in particular, the god was depicted as a male with two faces (Martin 38). Similarly, freedom of speech is two-faced Janus with freedom and limit. According to Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians are free to think their own thoughts, speak their own minds, to gather peacefully into groups and to associate with whomever they wish, as long as they do not infringe valid regulations which protect the right and interests of others (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, 1982). In a democratic society, the freedom of speech should be properly regulated to prevent yellow journalism, to protect sensitive state secrets from abuse and to promote a high quality of speech based on responsibility. The regulation of freedom of speech is important since it prevents yellow journalism. Yellow journalism refers to the style of journalism that features scandals, sensationalism, and unethical or unprofessional practices by news media organizations or journalists without any regulations (Holtz-Bacha, 2008). Tom Conner (2014) gives an example of yellow journalism, and mentioned that the Dreyfus Affair of 1894 was an anti-Semitic political scandal in France; it involved the false accusation of a Jewish French artillery officer named Alfred Dreyfus for leaking secrets to the German army. At that time, inaccurate but powerfulShow MoreRelatedFreedom Of Speech By The First Amendment Of The Constitution1657 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant freedom in my eyes. Without freedom of speech, I am unable to be the individual that I strive to be, which is to stick out and be unique, which is why I treasure freedom of speech the most. I am going to take advantage of my freedom of speech and use it to cultivate and progress my business goals in life to make me successful as a woman in the business world. Freedom of speech had to take gradual and extensive steps in order to get where it is today. Many people strive to have freedom of speechRead MoreContent Based V Content Neutral Speech : How Occupational Licensing Threatens First Amendment Protections Essay1330 Words   |  6 PagesContent Based v. Content Neutral Speech: How Occupational Licensing Threatens First Amendment Protections Introduction Since the 1950’s, occupational licensing has grown from 73 occupations to thousands of occupations being licensed. In fact, 28% of American jobs require a license in order to practice a profession. Occupational licensing is a method of economic regulation whereby the government controls the entry and supply of participants in a given profession. Occupational licensing can beRead MoreHow Important Is The First Amendment?950 Words   |  4 PagesHow Important is the First Amendment? The First Amendment was adopted in 1791. It states that â€Å"Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.† (Wikipedia, 2016) The freedom of speech documented in the First Amendment is not only a constitutional protection, but also an inevitable part of democratic government and independence, which are essential values in ourRead MoreThe Freedom Of Speech : Yellow Journalism1088 Words   |  5 Pages Similarly, freedom of speech is Janus with two faces reflecting freedom and limit. According to Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadians are free to think their own thoughts, speak their own minds, to gather peacefully into groups and to associate with whomever they wish, as long as they do not infringe valid regulations which protect the right and interests of others (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, 1982). Therefore, in a democratic society, the freedom of speech should be properlyRead MoreSpeech : The Freedom Of Speech Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesCitizens of the United States are privileged to the freedom of speech under the First Amendment, but the constitutional limits of the freedom of speech have been questioned on multiple occasions. Citizens of the United States have called upon the Supreme Court numerous times to interpret the meaning of the First Amendment, and the court has censored some forms of speech such as obscene speech --which has been prohibited--and indecent or pornographic speech--which has been regulated (Barrett, 1999). PublicRead MoreThe Delicate Balance of Regulating Freedom of Speech806 Words   |  3 PagesIs the Freedom of the press really â€Å"free† when it comes bearing stipulations and regulations? Should we as citizens then live as a democratic society where freedom of speech and press is completely unregulated? For those readers who say yes, would you then be willing to legalize types of speech like slander or defamation of character and reputation? This is precisely the tricky and delicate balance that democratic societies like the United States often have to weigh in which different social valuesRead MoreFoundations and Limits of Freedom of the Press705 Words   |  3 PagesIn â€Å"Foundations and Limits of Freedom of the Press, â€Å" Judith Lichtenberg explores the ongoing controversial argument surrounding the regulation of the press and mass media. She evaluates the ability of the press to shape our opinions and values through an examination of the interdependent relationship between freedom of speech and press. Furthermore, she notes that, while the two rights appear similar as they are both considered as forms of self-expression, it is important to differ between the twoRead MoreSymbolic Speech And Its Impact1454 Words   |  6 Pages15 November 2015 O’Brien v. United States: Symbolic Speech and Its Impact Symbolic speech is a type of speech used to express one’s ideas. The notion of symbolic speech is protected in the United States constitution which evidently says: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press...† (U. S. Constitution). The freedom of speech represents one of the most vital amendments in the UnitedRead MoreImportance Of Freedom Of Speech914 Words   |  4 PagesFree Speech Should be Limited Everyone has the right to freedom of speech, but when there is freedom of speech without limits or restrictions, there is no doubt that this will lead to disaster. People will surely benefit if we are able balance between freedom of speech and restrictions to ensure that society can communicate and prosper without anarchy. The first amendment for freedom of speech can be a good thing and a bad thing if left to free. An important lesson that a young woman learned whenRead MoreFree Speech vs Hate Speech Essay1647 Words   |  7 PagesFree Speech vs. Harmful Hate Speech Freedom of speech is instilled at the beginning of the Bill of Rights and it allows citizens of the United States to express their opinions without being afraid of what might happen to them, much like in other countries. Many times people are directly or indirectly harmed by others’ actions that are considered a right under the freedom of speech clause. Though, some people worry that if we do not allow for complete freedom of speech, it is hard to figure out