Kathleen Parker Can Words Kill People Analysis

In “Can words kill people?” (2017) Kathleen Parker (an Opinion Writer for The Washington Post) declares that while words matter, the First Amendment entitles each person to free speech. Parker reinforces her declaration by informing about the limits of free speech (“the Constitution’s protections for nearly every form of speech short of the ‘fire’-in-a-crowded-theater prohibition.”), giving an example of what should be considered free speech (Carter telling her boyfriend to kill himself but her not helping him or actually killing him), and claiming “Words do matter, but they’re not lethal.” She informs, gives an example, and makes a claim in order to illustrate why cases like Carter’s should not result in a conviction (“what she said to
Roy isn’t — or shouldn’t be — the crux of a legal argument.”) and why our freedom of speech should not be restricted. Parker aims this speech at judges, jurors, and others in the legal system because she talks about the legality of what Carter said and why she (and others) should be allowed to say almost whatever she wants without being charged in court (although she is subject to the public’s scrutiny).