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Freedom Of Speech: The Freedom To Offend?

1352 Words6 Pages

The Freedom to Offend? (TOPIC:2)

INTRODUCTION
Post World War II, there has been a growth of legislation in Europe to curb Freedom of Speech, in order to reduce, or ideally, prevent Hate Speeches. Article 10 of the ECHR (European Convention of Human Rights), provides Freedom of Speech and Expression to all individuals, but the use of this Freedom is “conditioned on conformity with the restrictions necessary, inter alia, for the protection of the reputation and rights of others" (Europe, 2014). However as far as the United States goes, the First Amendment guarantees complete Freedom of Expression to all individuals with almost no restrictions. It does not curb Hate Speech unless it incites violence and in turn restricts the Congress from curbing the rights of Individuals to speak of their own Free Will (Overgaauw, 2009).

PHILOSOPHY OF FREEDOM
Hate Speech is a derogatory form of communication whereby prejudice and stereotypes are used to target any race, religion, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation etc. which may directly or indirectly incite violence.
Liberty is surrounded and circled by paradoxes (O 'Neill, 2006). With every right or Freedom comes an element of duty or responsibility. Freedom of Speech does not simply include the freedom to express thoughts and opinions; it also includes the duty or responsibility to hold those opinions for the general good of all.
The major paradox of Liberty is that it automatically implies certain restrictions or constraints. For

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