Summary Of Freedom Of Speech By Nat Hentoff
Freedom of Speech
In this reading, Hentoff continues to examine how Americans repress each other on matters regarding freedom of speech. He argues that it is easy for Americans to support freedom of speech in general but the same people change tact when they are negatively affected by other individuals’ exercise of free speech. To demonstrate the rising level of attack on free expression, Hentoff gives the example of opposition to a march planned by the American Nazi Party through Skokie, an area that had a significant population of Jews. According to Nat Hentoff, freedom of speech is indivisible; he points out that loss of this freedom to one person threatens freedom of others. He reveals that if freedom of expression is not accorded to white racists, it means such would eventually be denied to black racists and other movements that appear to provoke others by the exercise of their freedom. Hentoff makes a comparison between the Nazis protest and Martin Luther King-led protests in Selma, Alabama. He argues that, If Nazis were prohibited from marching in Skokie for fear they would incite a violent reaction from Jewish population in the area, …show more content…
The First Amendment was enacted to guarantee freedom of speech to all citizens; therefore, excluding some forms of discourse because they appear offensive to others amounts to justifying suppression of unpopular ideas that emanate from unpopular minorities (Hentoff, Nat, 56). Another element revealed is how the rising censorship of free speech ensnares those it is supposed to protect. He argues that there is a risk that unpopular expressions will completely be limited as they are seen as “unpatriotic’, “hate speech,” or
In this reading, Hentoff continues to examine how Americans repress each other on matters regarding freedom of speech. He argues that it is easy for Americans to support freedom of speech in general but the same people change tact when they are negatively affected by other individuals’ exercise of free speech. To demonstrate the rising level of attack on free expression, Hentoff gives the example of opposition to a march planned by the American Nazi Party through Skokie, an area that had a significant population of Jews. According to Nat Hentoff, freedom of speech is indivisible; he points out that loss of this freedom to one person threatens freedom of others. He reveals that if freedom of expression is not accorded to white racists, it means such would eventually be denied to black racists and other movements that appear to provoke others by the exercise of their freedom. Hentoff makes a comparison between the Nazis protest and Martin Luther King-led protests in Selma, Alabama. He argues that, If Nazis were prohibited from marching in Skokie for fear they would incite a violent reaction from Jewish population in the area, …show more content…
The First Amendment was enacted to guarantee freedom of speech to all citizens; therefore, excluding some forms of discourse because they appear offensive to others amounts to justifying suppression of unpopular ideas that emanate from unpopular minorities (Hentoff, Nat, 56). Another element revealed is how the rising censorship of free speech ensnares those it is supposed to protect. He argues that there is a risk that unpopular expressions will completely be limited as they are seen as “unpatriotic’, “hate speech,” or