Should the public expression of ideas deemed offensive by many be forbidden?

Question

Conclude either that offensive speech should be forbidden, that it should be permitted, or that it should be permitted or limited only in specific cases.

Answer 1

I agree with Tutor Richard B. It will be important for you to include what you have learned in class.

Your first step will be to decide what you believe. It will be easier to write the paper if you write from your heart and mind although it can be a fun exercise to argue the contradictory viewpoint.

What do YOU think?

What is the definition of "offensive speech"? You'll want to be sure to define "free speech" and "offensive" in the introductory paragraph.

The most important thing you can do is to decide what YOU think and WHY.

I'd recommend this for a starter:

I think that [pick your side] because of [__________], [__________], and [__________].

Those 3 reasons will be your body paragraphs. Feel free to add more reasons. Just make sure you have a different paragraph for each reason.

So, think about what you learned in class. Do some more research. And, of course, always cite your sources! 😊

One of the most important legal cases was Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District. Even though this case took place in 1969 - it has set a precedent which means that current cases are decided, in part on this previous case. This case involved 2 students who wore armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War. They were sent home by the school administrators and eventually the kids and their parents won their lawsuit against the school district with the Supreme Court finding that, "schools cannot censor students’ rights to freedom of speech and expression unless the officials can show that their “action was caused by something more than a mere desire to avoid the discomfort and unpleasantness that always accompany an unpopular viewpoint.”

Here's a link to the video produced by the Bill of Rights Institute about this case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQ_EAbM3zxo&ab_channel=BillofRightsInstitute.

https://www.abajournal.com/gallery/nine_first_amendments_cases/

If you scroll through the pictures on this link, you'll be able to read more about important Supreme Court cases about free speech.

Here's a link to the First Amendment: https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/amendment-1/.

Answer 2

It looks like your teacher is just asking for an essay that gives your opinion. If this question is based on something that you are reading in class, you would need to look back on the chapters you needed to read recently and look at the section or sections that are talking about offensive speech and whether or not it should be permitted. Regardless of whether or not this question is based on something out of the book, the teacher is wanting to see your ability to reason through a complex issue, and this is definitely a complex issue.