Gonzalez 1 Valentina Gonzalez Professor Erin Ashley Mink Garvey Composition & Rhetoric I WRD 103 Section 415

5 October 23, 2012

Is This Acceptable Language? Freedom of speech. Being the First Amendment of Americas Constitution implies that freedom of speech holds great importance; however, is there a possibility that the amendment has added fire to several sensitive issues in America? For instance, can freedom of speech exist in higher academia? The First Amendment reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech... I agree when most Americans claim that the United States wouldnt be what it is today without the First Amendment; nonetheless, do we really have the authority to tell anyone ANYTHING we want? On a bigger note, is it morally correct? As American citizens, we are fortunate to have freedom of speech as an alienable right. It gives citizens the right to express and voice ideas, opinions and beliefs. Unfortunately, when I think of the rights we are given under the First Amendment, the Westboro Baptist Church comes to mind. For example, God Hates Fags, Fags Eat Poop, and God Hates the USA are few of the beliefs that are loudly expressed by the members of the Westboro Baptist Church. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for protesting at soldiers funerals while yelling awful, atrocious so-called slogans. People ask what their reason is and their response is that God is punishing America for the existence of homosexuals. Is this acceptable? What does it matter? Theyre just words, right? WRONG. This situation, and many others like it, is problematic because members of the Westboro Baptist Church are asserting their beliefs and opinions. The First Amendment clearly gives them, and every American for that matter, the right to do so. In my eyes, the disrespectful ways in which the Westboro Baptist Church members present their beliefs would be considered harassment; even a hate crime against homosexuals. Is it still okay to voice your opinion when others are being attacked? So, what do I do? Do I, president of the university, censor language just because I consider it to be vulgar? It would be unconstitutional and hypocritical of me to do so when the aim of higher education is to foster learning and open people to new perspectives and views of the world. Censoring certain language would hinder the concept of learning and, most of all, America. America praises acceptance, not suppression.

Gonzalez 2 However, when language affects the safety of others, a line needs to be drawn and boundaries are necessary. Alan Charles Kors, author of The Betrayal of Liberty on Americas Campuses states, Almost all colleges and universities, for example , have harassment policies that prohibit selective verbal behaviorbut almost none has the honesty to call these "speech codes (337). As president, I will not conform to other universities and impose speech codes. However, I will stress the fact that language is indeed very powerful and at times, immoral. College students need to be mindful of that. For that matter, restricting the usage of certain language would not be beneficial; instead, learning that there is a time and a place for everything will help avoid problems. To believe in whatever you want is completely acceptable, but knowing how and who it is directed to can make all the difference. When vulgar language is directed and becomes harmful to others, it should be brought to that persons attention. Extreme punishment, such as suspension or expulsion, is not necessary. I feel and hope that demonstrating how hurtful words can be enough punishment. Like any other cut, scrape or burn, words can hurt and even destroy a person. The emotional and mental trauma might be more hurtful than any physical pain. The popular saying, Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me has lost its meaning over the years. For instance, back in the day, bullying built character but it has become a lot more extreme. What explains the fact that several people, especially young teens, have committed suicide because of bullying today? Robin Tolmach Lakoff, author of Hate Speech, explores the fact that language can cause actual harm to a person as she states, Only in the last hundred years or so have we talked about psychic wounds and mental diseases (314). However, Lakoff also stresses the fact that it is not taken seriously because it is not a physical wound. Because many feel this way, my university will bring major awareness to the issue. Language should be taken seriously and when someone is saying hurtful things to another person, they should be put on the spot and told how disrespectful they are being. Not acting upon this issue will only intensify problems such as bullying. Also, not voicing the effect that deplorable language can have on a person will bring upon disrespectful, closed-minded and unprofessional students. For example, Justin Bird, a high school student from Oak Forest, a suburb of Chicago, faces suspension for posting something inappropriate about his teacher on Facebook. The student made a page for the teacher and by the next day, it had received about fifty likes. Bird deleted the page the next day. But, the damage was done. The school wanted to suspend the student for five days. Justin Bird and his parents were justifying his postings by claiming that Bird has freedom of speech. I completely agree with this statement, BUT, things have changed now. In the real world, we dont necessarily have the freedom to post whatever we want on a social media network. A workplace would like to know that they have respectful and responsible employees on their team opposed to someone who uses disrespectful and harmful language. It could seriously affect ones chances of getting a job.

Gonzalez 3 All in all, my opinion is that being an American citizen comes with great responsibility. One should not abuse the First Amendment. The amendment comes with underlying rules and implications of what our society considers to be respectful. The First Amendment is meant for us to voice our opinions; not to cause harm to others with our words.

Gonzalez 4 Bibliography Goshgarian, Gary. Exploring Language. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, n.d. Print. "U.S. Constitution - Amendment 1." - The U.S. Constitution Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am1.html>.