Freedom of Speech -- Censorship Rights Essays

freedom of SpeechFreedom of speech is something that, traditionally, has been unique to the United States. In fact, it was one of the founding principles of our country. It was the group of re reduceed colonists that decided that they would no semipermanent accept the fact that they were not allowed to speak out against the throne. They decided that they would not accept not being able to denounce the Church of England. And on July 4, 1776, what could be seen as one of the boldest forms of speech ever ensured that never again would Americans be subject to the harsh regulation of Great Britain. Then, in 1789, our nations forefathers made it official with the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, including the first of ten amendments Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof or abridging the emancipation 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.1 Ever since, the United States has been a country known, and in some cases hated, for the freedom it promises to its citizens. As we move into the 21st century, not only do we be possessed of speech in the form of oral communication, written correspondence, and even physical action, we have the internet - a global network by which people communicate regardless of their geographic location. Today we see the internet as a capacious resource which is exploited for its business prospect as well as its entertainment value. However, there is a problem Bringing the rest of the world on board with the standards of the United States - or perhaps less arrogantly put - bringing the United States on board with the standards practiced by rest of the worl... ...e only way for everyone across the globe to be able to embrace their individual freedoms while not imposing on the innocent who wish to remain unspoilt that - innocent.Bibliography1 Harjinder Rahanu, Freedom o f Speech, paper, University of Wolverhampton, 2003/2004, 23.2 Winchel Todd Vincent, III, Freedom of Speech in Cyberspace Are You a Criminal?, paper, Georgia State College of Law, 1996, 25.3 Freedom of Speech is Not Absolute, editorial, CaymanNetNews.com, 2000, 14 P. Bernt Hugenholtz, Copyright And Freedom Of Expression In Europe, paper, University of Amsterdam, Institute for Information Law, 2000, 165 Sara Baase, A Gift of Fire (Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson Education/Prentice Hall 2003) 401-4206 matter Coalition Against Censorship, Internet Free Expression Alliance, paper, National Coalition Against Censorship, 1998, 1