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Freedom Of Speech In Colleges

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It is rather baffling that the basic right of free speech has become a subject of fervent debate. It should be clear that an individual’s freedom of speech should not be limited or compromised unless it interferes with the defined legal rights of others. Until freedom of speech involves threats against another’s well-being or is followed by physical violence or force, such expression should not be met with legal restraint. Moreover, it is important to recognize that hate speech is not logical or constructive; therefore, the most effective way to invalidate hateful ideologies is to allow the bigoted to freely present their fallacious viewpoints. The act of giving hate speech a platform does not mean people are compelled to listen to it or condone it. It does, however, permit opportunities for such ideas to be publicly met with contempt, and harsh criticism. …show more content…
Colleges are intended to be intellectual spaces, they are free market places of ideas manufactured to provoke and challenge the minds of students with a variety of concepts and ideas. And while college campuses are meant to be safe and secure locations, they are not vacuous echo chambers in which students are never confronted by conflicting opinions that may make them feel uncomfortable. Accordingly, those who hold radical, controversial philosophies, regardless of race, should have the right to subject their thoughts to the harsh scrutiny of their peers. If this right is not extended to them, anyone could potentially contort the words ‘Nazi’ or ‘racist’ in order to shut down an argument. Similarly, such words can be redefined to absolve or vindicate insidious, but equally prejudiced

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