Austin Lo

Mr.Manning
AP U.S Government (EQ)
2015/10/7
Is free speech in America too free?
Freedom of speech is one of the core value of the United States. Of course many of
others might think freedom of speech may spread hatred (but not threaten or
encourage crime) in United States such as Westboro Baptist Church spreading hate to
the other religion or churches. However, the law in United States also suppress
freedom of the speech in some situation. Such as Espionage Act of 1917, which states
that any freedom of speech that against the war effort will be consider as a crime. I
believe the free speech in America is never too free by following reasons. First
Americans have the right to choice what kind of speech will they in favor of, second
if any kind of extreme speech is a crime, then the government is trying to enforce a
typical ideology towards its people, lastly at least free speech in the United states
during the wartime is limited by the Espionage Act of 1917.
First of all, people the right to choice to believe a certain ideology or idea made by
others. The government have no right to interfere any speech made by people as long
as the speech did not contain with threat. Spread of hatred such as Westboro Baptist
Church has done over years, it seems like some people did made their choice.
However some Americans will find offense by it and they could choice to avoid to see
it, no one is forcing them to listen to such speech.
Second of all, it is the United Stated government duty to insure every voice of its
people, have their own ideology. If the government suppress any typical speech of the
people, then it enforce people to think in a particular way that government wants them
to. To build up a perfect explanation, we have to look into US history. Those founding
fathers signed the Declaration of independence, based on different ideas that Britain
have. Founding Fathers may be considered as traitor from the Crown perspective.
Therefore I think those founding fathers may realize how important the free speech on
ideas is important to forming a perfect union.
Lastly, free speech in the United States has been reasonable restrict by the law.
Under the Espionage Act of 1917, any statement that against the war effort is a crime.
In Schenk V. United States cases the Supreme Court announced "when a nation is at
war, many things that might be said in time of peace are such a hindrance to its effort
that their utterance will not be endured so long as men fight, and that no Court could
regard them as protected by any constitutional right." Which I think the free speech
are limited in order to preserve the union.
All in all, the whole ideas of free speech is too form a perfect union and respect each
others opinion even though it is offensive; however free speech is a crime when the
government are trying to make things right in an extreme situation. Therefore I think
free speech in United States is important as keeping the nation in one piece.