1. Katrell Greene
1/25/15
First Year Seminar
Professor Blanco
Should Free Speech be regulated?
What is free speech? Free speech is another term for freedom of speech which in the
United State is our first amendment right. Free speech has been a heavily debated topic for a long
period of time now. Over time governments across the world have been weakening protections
against free speech for a variety of different things such as religion and government. The
seriousness of free speech differs in different areas of the world. After reading through “Free
speech at risk” by Alan Greenblatt my stance on regulating free speech is that I believe it should
be regulated to a certain extent.
In countries like our own the United States of America we are blessed with the rights as
citizens to criticize major things such as religion and government. In Egypt it is illegal to insult
your government, while in our country it is done on a daily basis. Egyptian political satirist
Bassem Youssef underwent police questioning because it was believed that he had insulted
Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and Islam. Jon Stewart a satirical TV show host on the
“Daily Show” defended Bassem Youssef because he could not believe that something like that

2. would be illegal. After the U.S. embassy saw the broadcast by Stewart they shut it down because
the Egyptian authorities objected to it.
I have took the stance that free speech should be regulated to a certain extent because I
believe that it should be regulated when the safety or well-being of a person or group of people is
at risk, mentally or physically. As I stated before, certain items of discussion are taken more
seriously in different areas. A negative comment towards ones religion can cause a violent
outbreak in cultures like Islam. Where as in America it is far less likely for a negative comment
on one’s religion will result in a violent response. The UN is working on a resolution that will
create an international standard for anti-religious speech.
In the article “Where to Draw the Line on Hate Speech?” the author elaborates on how
certain things should be regulated. The author elaborates on how they don’t believe that there are
enough restrictions on topics like hate speech. In the article he states “We lack meaningful
regulation against speech intended to demean or vilify minority groups.” This article agrees with
the former statement that I made where I said that free speech should be regulated when it effects
mentally. It should not be legal for someone to freely spew hate among a group of people
because it makes minorities feel like they are not protected or welcome in their own country.
In the article “Court Hears Challenge to Military Funeral Protests” the author speaks on
an event that happened in early March 2006, where a marine had died and religious protestors
came to the church and protested with signs that said “THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS,
SEMPER FI FAGS, and FAG TROOPS.” The members of Westboro church didn’t know
anything about the soldier and were not saying that he was gay but saying the God was punishing
the United States for accepting homosexuality. This article backs that free speech should be

3. regulated and it ended with stating that the leader of the protest was sued and had to pay 10
million dollars.
In the article “Anti-gay bumper sticker: Free speech, hate speech?” there was a sticker on
the back of a person’s car that stated “Gay rights? Under God’s law the only “rights” gays have
is to die. Lesbians saw this sticker and were not too pleased. The driver of this car was found
guilty of inciting hatred against homosexuals and awarded two of the women who were offended
$5000 and a third $2500 in damages. This article agrees with regulation of free speech when it
effects someone’s well-being.
I believe that my stance on this issue is correct. I agree with free speech when it is not
hurting anyone. If free speech is not regulated, there is a potential of a lot of bad things
happening throughout this world. Words can hurt whether we want to believe it or not.

4. Works Cited
"Anti-gay Bumper Sticker: Free Speech, Hate Speech?" Somebody Think Of The Children. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
"WAR OF WORDS - Where Do We Draw the Line between Free Speech and Hate Speech?"
USC Dornsife College News RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2015.
"Where to Draw the Line on Hate Speech?" The American Prospect. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan.
2015.