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Limits are Sometimes O.K
1
Limits on Speech are Never O.K
Freedom of Speech has long been contested over its respect to purpose, time and place. Is there a time when freedom of speech should be limited?
Personally, I find it morally questionable not to limit freedom of speech on occasions, cyber bullying is a rampant crime and truly should be capped, but this is unrealistic. Therefore, I believe that in perpetuation criminal activity or suicide/homicide of another individual should be considered a crime worthy of trial. I will not prevent a white supremacist from having his beliefs, but I will prevent him from organizing and acting on this beliefs as they do not fall under the category of a "peaceful assembly". Freedom of Speech promulgates hate crime without restriction. If life is sacred and all people are equal before the government, then shouldn't putting groups of people, usually minorities, i.e (muslims, jews, blacks etc.), at risk through freedom of speech be unbalancing equality? Although Voltaire is famously misquoted "I disagree with what you may say, but I will defend to death you right to say it," I'm sure that even he would not allow the free exchange of speech for organizing another Kristallnacht. In fact I know not of one occasion where freedom of speech was a battle cry for hate, ignorance and violence, even under the iron fist of the communists, the Czechs during the Prague Spring didn't insist upon freedom of speech to create instability, freedom of speech was a unifying force, they did not liberalize in the name of spreading lies, slander, hate and violence, they did so that they may speak their minds, be critical, be offensive, but not harm a person.