Analysis: The Coddling Of The American Mind

Campus Free Speech It seems every time you turn on the news today there is another story talking about free speech on campus around the country. Many of these stories involve students protesting certain offensive speakers from talking at their university. According to the article Free Speech or Safe Speech, as these protesting become intense and dangerous. These students believe these offensive speakers cause a hostile environment and interrupt their education therefore should not be able to speak at their school.

In the article “The Tragic Risk of An American Obsession.” In Time Magazine by Sean Gregory asks the question, how much brain injury can we accept? This question is triggered when a high schooler dies of a brain injury that occurred during a football game. Gregory goes into detail about how football is a dangerous game, the repercussions of playing football, and how we can make it safer. Football is a dangerous sport.

What is Trigger Warning Anyway? Anxiety is considered as a normal feeling for most of the people, a part of emotions just like happiness or sadness. So it is a part of living, it’s the body’s way of telling us that something isn’t right. It keeps us from harm’s way and prepares us to act quickly in the face of danger. But an anxiety disorder is way from a normal feeling.

According to the dictionary, the definition of Americanism is a custom, trait, belief, etc., peculiar to the United States of America or its citizens. In 1776 when the United States was established and we declared independence from Britain, we got many rights and freedoms. Those rights and freedoms are still very important today to making Americans who they are and what they believe. To be an American to me is not about your ethnicity, religion, or language you speak.

Examine a photograph of Yosemite captured by Ansel Adams. Behold the beauty of the colorful sky, or the amazing rock formations. To Adams, there is so much more than a 4x6 photograph can display. There is an inspiration of the beauty of the area. The colors that pop and harmonize well with nature, hues and details that are better captured by the naked eye.

American Voice is characterized by three themes. One is that Americans are hard workers. The second one is that they are brave no matter what. Last but not least the third theme is that they are grateful. The American Voice is characterized by the theme of hard work.

In the society of today, discussion on the topic of freedom of speech is at a forefront. The question on whether there are any limitations on the freedom of speech is one which causes a constant battle between “right and wrong” within the media and with public institutions. The argument that there are no limitations to expression is one which bears a lot of support from not just the liberalist area of society, but also quite often draws a lot of support from the conservative part too, as it is something that allows both sides to express their opinions. The importance of expressing ones opinions is something that the philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill believes is a fundamental part of human liberty. It is certainly true that there are always more than one way of looking at a situation, and finding truth within a situation can only be found if there are no limitations to people’s freedom of expressing their opinions on the said situation.

Problems. Dilemmas. Quandaries. Life is known for it. However, people fail to realize a critical technicality.

The idea of free speech on college campuses and the complications of it stem from those on campuses expressing views that don’t align with popular views. Implications for students who use the idea of free speech as a method for hateful actions and comments should be reprimanded, but the question remains as to whether schools should enforce tougher limitations. The freedom of speech on college campus expands to the freedoms of religion, assembly, press, and protest as well. Freedom of expression allows students to show their own political, social, and cultural views. Removing freedoms of speech and expression have consequences deeper than surface issues.

A Misleading Attacks on Tigger Warnings, and Safe Spaces In the article “Trigger Warnings, Safe Spaces and Free Speech, too” by Sophie Downes, published in the New York Times. Downes argument in the letter sent out by Dean Ellison by the University of Chicago. The letter states that trigger warnings and safe spaces were an issue from deterring students from having free speech so therefore would not be supported by the University of Chicago campus anymore.

In America, citizens take pride in being American. But, what does it mean to be American? If you were to look at from an educational standpoint, it would mean high dropout rates, black/ white test score gaps, and differences in resources between schools. The term education is defined by sociology as a social institution through which a society’s children are taught basic academic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural norms.

Freedom of speech is one of the many essential core values that The United States of America was founded on. The United States Constitution and Bill of Rights prohibits the United States government from making laws which may infringe on our natural right to free speech. Without free speech, our generation and future generations alike would lack intellectual vitality. Being exposed to different ideas and beliefs is necessary for people to be able to formulate their own personal beliefs. Taking away or limiting free speech would be living life fearing that you will express an unpopular opinion in the eyes of certain people.

“Feigning Free Speech on Campus” is a 2012 op-ed article written by Greg Lukianoff, an attorney with a passion for First Amendment Rights. Lukianoff brings up points that are just as valid today as they were 4 years ago. Youth voter participation is low and it is impossible to ignore the effects of educational institutions hampering inquiry and expression of the students. The main claim to this issue is not simply that colleges engage in some degree of free speech repression, but that the methods implied on campuses are no less that any other institution that controls and influences public awareness of political issues. Lukianoff is successful and effective in his appeal to his target audience of young adults.