A Word Gone Wrong, By Lawrence Downes

What is a result of free speech? Does free speech affect people for the good or the worse? Is there even such a thing as ‘free’ speech? Everyone has been told at some point of their lives that there is a time and place for everything. However, there are a few people in this world that do not understand this saying.
Some people are careless when they talk. They can sometimes say words that hurt or disrespect others without even meaning to. In an article titled ‘A Word Gone Wrong’, by Lawrence Downes, I read about the feelings of a down syndrome man named John Franklin Stephens. He talked about how he and millions of other people living with down syndrome feel about words such as, retarded, idiot, and moron. According to John Franklin Stephens,
While reading an article titled, ‘Indian mascots – you’re out’ by Jack Shakely, He states that “When we got back to Oklahoma, my mother took one look at the cap with its leering, big-nosed, buck-toothed redskin caricature just about the brim, jerked it off my head and threw it in the trash. She had been fighting against Indian stereotypes all her life, and I had just worn one home. I was only 10 years old, but the look of betrayal in my Creek mother’s eyes is seared in my memory forever”. Although Jack liked the cap due to being loyal to his Indian roots, his mother did not approve of such a thing. Why? As stated, this Indian mascot design was a stereotype and very offensive towards the Indian culture. Shakely also states “...the Braves name wasn’t the biggest problem. It was that cringe-worthy Chief Noc-A-Homa who came stomping and war-dancing his way out of a tepee in center field every time the Braves hit a home run that got me. He was dressed in a Plains Indian Chief’s eagle bonnet and acted like a village idiot.” Society today has placed stereotypes of various cultures in the heads of every person in the world. Stereotypes are exaggerations and tend to hurt those who it is stereotyping. As the article continues, it discusses how Indians felt about these exaggerations of their culture and
How does it affect free speech? Political correctness was a movement that took place in the 1980s and 1990s. The goal was to restrict speech, mainly directed towards hate towards groups. However, it also challenged speeches to include diverse perspectives. There is a current movement directed towards the well-being and emotions of the audience. Political correctness is a shield that protects individual groups from being hurt or offended by speakers. Protecting others from words or phrases poorly prepares them for a professional life. A professional life usually includes engagement with others and ideas that may offensive or