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Free Expression on College Campuses

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Submitted By mike1991
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College campuses should not be a place where young adults are targeted by special interest groups, taught one-side of an issue, or dominated by expression that can intimidate the free flow of ideas. College campuses are filled with diversity. Rather, students from all over the world, whether citizens or guests, should feel welcome to share cultural, political, and traditional values openly. Unfortunately, some people take our freedoms to extremes on both sides of the issue and without limitations to free speech it could be abused. The essence of why free speech should be limited or censored on college campuses is best captured in Lawrence’s own writing On Racist Speech. “Assaultive rasict speech functions as a preemptive strike. The invective is experienced as a blow, not as a proffered idea, and once the blow is struck, it is unlikely that a dialogue will follow. Racial insults are particularly undeserving of First Amendment protection because the perpetrator’s intention is not to discover truth or initiate dialogue but to injure the victim.”(page56 paragraph 6.) The law of the land states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” (United States Constitution. First Amendment.) Prior to ratifying the U.S. Constitution our founding fathers declared our freedom from Great Britain, “And for the support of the Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” (Declaration of Independence. Jefferson page 859 paragraph 35.) In essence, Americans were given ultimate freedoms to look, say, and express

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