Is a research paper on why free speech should be regulated

1. Jalen Smoot
Dr. Harold Blanco
Debate Research Paper
1/26/15
Regulating Free Speech
For many years people have always tried to express what they think or believe through
speech. But as time has gone on there has been some problems with people speaking there mind.
Through the article made by Alan Greenblatt he talks about the kind of things that can happen
with free speech and that it could be at risk. The main underlying issue that is being debated in
the article is pretty much is free speech a good thing or should it be regulated. The main reason
for this is because some things that have been said have cause many riots or other issues through
the world because of free speech. For example people telling that other religions or culture are a
bad thing and list all the reason why. Another name for this would be called hate speech. As
quoted by Aryeh Neier, with the article called, “Free Speech at Risk, by: Alan Greenblatt”, she
had said “Hate speech is intended to incite discrimination or violence against members of a
particular national, racial or ethnic group.” (Greenblatt, A. (2013, April 26). Free speech at risk.
CQ Researcher, 23, 377-400. Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/).”
Now the real question is should we regulating speech or should we not? Well there are some
benefits to regulating free speech. The government would be in control of what is said. Less
chance of offending people and causing issues between other cultures. There would be less hate
speech spread around. Also media would be giving more stories that are not lies or trying to
prove that you are right. But there are still some effects if we still unregulated free speech. Such

2. as we would still have or even more hate speech. We could cause issues between other countries
through our media. People will have even more reason lie about something in the newspapers.
We would pretty much have no say in what is true or not. There are a few implications on this
debate with the democratic societies. Well it would be taking the right to speak your mind away
from people. It also cause some conflict for people in America. The main reason for this is being
that it would be going against the first amendment if we regulate free speech.
I will have to agree with some and say we should regulate free speech. Having free speech
is a right yes, but it can cause many problems. Our founding fathers believed that everyone had
the right speak and do what they believe in. The first amendment had given us the right to speak
our mind. At first it seem like the right thing to do and everything was fine. But as time passed
people had started to abuse it and use in whatever way it can help them. It has cause many issues
and made many problems for everyone. As I was said in the last article all the problems of free
speech had eventually created another version which is called hate speech. Which is pretty much
spreading hateful things about certain topics. Which usually consist of someone else’s beliefs
and customs. Most of the time the things the spread are usually lies or something they
themselves to believe to be true and everyone else should agree. At first newspaper seem to be
trustworthy. Now they consist of thing that could possibly not be true or giving out personal
information that should not be shown to other people.
The internet could also be cause of why free speech should be regulated and the reason for
this is because internet has become another very popular way of showing free speech. As in
many different stories or articles can be put on the internet. Including blogs that deal with a
certain topic. Unlike newspapers, what is put on the internet could be on there forever, no matter
how many time it is deleted. So if something like some personal documents are put on the

3. internet and someone explains what they are and if they are bad. There is no way of getting rid of
it. Also most people who go on the internet will usually believe anything that people say on it.
The internet has been the best way for people to give their own opinions on certain things that
could offend most and it is another good way to spread around hate speech.
Free speech has just cause so many issues. It has cause issues with our own community
and with the world as a whole. As time went by this has been proven during the time of civil
rights and how it was trying to make people believe that people with different skin should not be
trusted. Also how the media sometimes the media will show the people from the Middle East are
all bad people. People will keep giving out what they believe to be true, no matter how offensive
or hurtful it is. Another example would be for people who write mean or hateful things about
certain people or topics. Also people protesting against other people beliefs. The perfect example
of that would the Bewestboro Baptist Church. All we can really say is, “it is free speech we can’t
really make them stop.” This has also caused many conflicts between other countries. Which
usually ends with riots or a terrorist attack.
So I would say that we should do what some countries do and regulate free speech.
Make it so that it is controlled and only the truth will be shown and not just some made up lie.
Also that if anyone go against it they will be punished. Show that we need to try and keep the
piece with in the community and the rest of the world. We need to stop all of this hate speech
and make it so that everyone feel equal. People can still have their opinion but they just can’t go
around yelling it at everyone and trying to prove they are right. With regulated free speech we
can keep the order in tack.

4. Work cited page
Odartey-Wellington, Felix Nii Lantei. "Regulating free speech in the public interest: The CRTC
and Al-Jazeera." Dissertation Abstracts International Section A 69. (2008). PsycINFO. Web. 27
Jan. 2015.
Harvey, Andy. "Regulating Homophobic Hate Speech: Back To Basics About Language And
Politics?." Sexualities 15.2 (2012): 191-206. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.
Keiser, Debra M. "Regulating The Internet: A Critique Of Reno V. ACLU." Albany Law Review
62.2 (1998): 769. Academic Search Premier. Web. 27 Jan. 2015.