Free Speech Forum
To begin this project, we began with unpacking our 1st amendments rights and what we were allowed to say. We spent a lot of time understanding what made the right of free speech important to us and within our democracy. The free speech forum was an opportunity to chose something that symbolized free speech to us. I decided to focus on protesting and specifically the Westboro Baptist Church. Through this project, I developed an understanding of both the negatives and positives of free speech. It was also interesting to explore the influences of free speech on a democracy.
Protecting the Right to Publicly Disagree
Without the freedom of speech in a democracy, the people would be deprived of an adequate voice in the government. Free speech is the freedom to disagree with the views of others, including the government. The purpose of a democracy is to provide all qualified residents with the opportunity to contribute evenly, therefore, the voice of the people is essential in a democracy. We are given the freedom to our own opinions with reasonable outlets to voice them and the freedom to stand up against what we find immoral, unethical, or incorrect and the power create change. Protesting can be an important outlet for expressing opinions and generating awareness. Although the freedom of expression can cause tension within communities, the right to speak freely remains one of our democracy’s most influential components.
Westboro Baptist Church is notorious across the country as a hate group for its anti-gay movements and protests. The group began its large anti-gay protests in 1991 and continues to picket at funerals and public events. Because the group addresses such a controversial topic, the picketers have been known cause tension with those who support gay rights. Under the 1st amendment, the Westboro Church members have the freedom of religion and the right to peaceably assemble, which allows them to create their cardboard signs and stand up for what they believe. However, people who oppose the protests also have the freedom to express their views.
Those who chose to face groups such as the Westboro members and picket against them, are actively demonstrating what it means to have the freedoms of assembly, religion, and speech as well as what it means to exist within a democracy. In 2013 Alison Amyx, a blogger and Christian who supports gay rights, picketed against Westboro’s “hateful rhetoric” outside of the Supreme Court donning the sign “God (loves) gays” with a smile on her face. Around her, church members repeated hateful mantras and held signs about gays going to hell, being condemned by God, and being the reason for our country’s doom. Her courage to actively exercise her freedoms against those she disagreed with excellently demonstrates the role of free speech.
With the freedom to disagree in a democracy, we have the power to voice our opinions. During the campaign of President Obama both his supporters and those who opposed his election strongly voiced their opinions. People rallied either for or against the election of Barack Obama. Some people chose to express themselves with detrimental signs with slogans such as “NOBAMA” while others daunted signs that supported his election. Producing rigidity and drawing attention to issues is the goal of protesting and without the freedom of speech, it would be useless. With tools such as the freedom to protest, people posses the freedom to make their point heard. And in contradiction, people are allowed to stand against those points. Every individual is entitled to their opinion and the right to make that opinion known.
The freedom of speech provides the capability to acknowledge flaws and cause change or create growth. In a government of the people, for the people the freedom of speech is essential in thinking independently. Believing whatever you want to is supported and having a loud voice is encouraged. Although the freedom of speech can be harsh, offensive, and degrading to certain people or groups, it still essential to provide everyone with ability to speak freely. Although the freedom of speech also permits hateful, harmful, and degrading speech, it is important to allow all people to speak freely. In a Democracy, people are given the right to disagree and the power to spark change or develop awareness. Democracy is brilliant when its power is implemented. Being allowed to express ideas freely is an important component in participating in our government as well as a liberating freedom. When it comes to democracy, the voice of the people matters most.
Works Cited:
· Amyx, Allison. "A Different Kind Of Baptist: Countering Westboro Baptist Church - See More At: Http://www.believeoutloud.com/latest/different-kind-baptist-countering-westboro-baptist-church#sthash.l2JdWTNs.dpuf."Believe Outloud. N.p., 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.
· Wikipedia contributors. "Westboro Baptist Church." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Sep. 2014. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.
Without the freedom of speech in a democracy, the people would be deprived of an adequate voice in the government. Free speech is the freedom to disagree with the views of others, including the government. The purpose of a democracy is to provide all qualified residents with the opportunity to contribute evenly, therefore, the voice of the people is essential in a democracy. We are given the freedom to our own opinions with reasonable outlets to voice them and the freedom to stand up against what we find immoral, unethical, or incorrect and the power create change. Protesting can be an important outlet for expressing opinions and generating awareness. Although the freedom of expression can cause tension within communities, the right to speak freely remains one of our democracy’s most influential components.
Westboro Baptist Church is notorious across the country as a hate group for its anti-gay movements and protests. The group began its large anti-gay protests in 1991 and continues to picket at funerals and public events. Because the group addresses such a controversial topic, the picketers have been known cause tension with those who support gay rights. Under the 1st amendment, the Westboro Church members have the freedom of religion and the right to peaceably assemble, which allows them to create their cardboard signs and stand up for what they believe. However, people who oppose the protests also have the freedom to express their views.
Those who chose to face groups such as the Westboro members and picket against them, are actively demonstrating what it means to have the freedoms of assembly, religion, and speech as well as what it means to exist within a democracy. In 2013 Alison Amyx, a blogger and Christian who supports gay rights, picketed against Westboro’s “hateful rhetoric” outside of the Supreme Court donning the sign “God (loves) gays” with a smile on her face. Around her, church members repeated hateful mantras and held signs about gays going to hell, being condemned by God, and being the reason for our country’s doom. Her courage to actively exercise her freedoms against those she disagreed with excellently demonstrates the role of free speech.
With the freedom to disagree in a democracy, we have the power to voice our opinions. During the campaign of President Obama both his supporters and those who opposed his election strongly voiced their opinions. People rallied either for or against the election of Barack Obama. Some people chose to express themselves with detrimental signs with slogans such as “NOBAMA” while others daunted signs that supported his election. Producing rigidity and drawing attention to issues is the goal of protesting and without the freedom of speech, it would be useless. With tools such as the freedom to protest, people posses the freedom to make their point heard. And in contradiction, people are allowed to stand against those points. Every individual is entitled to their opinion and the right to make that opinion known.
The freedom of speech provides the capability to acknowledge flaws and cause change or create growth. In a government of the people, for the people the freedom of speech is essential in thinking independently. Believing whatever you want to is supported and having a loud voice is encouraged. Although the freedom of speech can be harsh, offensive, and degrading to certain people or groups, it still essential to provide everyone with ability to speak freely. Although the freedom of speech also permits hateful, harmful, and degrading speech, it is important to allow all people to speak freely. In a Democracy, people are given the right to disagree and the power to spark change or develop awareness. Democracy is brilliant when its power is implemented. Being allowed to express ideas freely is an important component in participating in our government as well as a liberating freedom. When it comes to democracy, the voice of the people matters most.
Works Cited:
· Amyx, Allison. "A Different Kind Of Baptist: Countering Westboro Baptist Church - See More At: Http://www.believeoutloud.com/latest/different-kind-baptist-countering-westboro-baptist-church#sthash.l2JdWTNs.dpuf."Believe Outloud. N.p., 12 Apr. 2013. Web. 1 Oct. 2014.
· Wikipedia contributors. "Westboro Baptist Church." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 25 Sep. 2014. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.