1. Jalen Norwood
Harold Blanco
FYS 100
January 29, 2015
Debate research paper
In the text, Free Speech at Risk, The constant argument on whether freedom of speech in
country should be regulated or not. The article goes back and forth on the debate by citing
political scandals, debates and corruption not only in America, but in other countries. Among
these situations, government affairs both national and international are often the main source of
discord (Greenblatt). However, there is also the issue of public censorship on the topic
government affairs and the practice off free speech in general (Greenblatt). Although the right of
freedom of speech is primarily a North American norm, it is still a topic of debate of its
expansion into other countries (Greenblatt). The pros and cons of this right are also mentioned in
the article along with situations that support both.
Every idea has a drawback, and this is in no way an exception to the idea of free speech.
While North Americans are more focused on the practiced benefits, other countries are worried
about the possible consequences. Acts such as hate groups and protest are often the main
problem when it comes to the subject (Greenblatt). Goverments, including our own, are also
worried about the possibility of social, political and international chaos erupting out of criticism
of their practices and affairs (Greenblatt). If our government were to set up regulations on what
is considered potentially harmful to the country, then threats on journalist and terrorist and
attacks in general would lower. Most countries often oppress the idea of freedom of speech and

2. journalism, but some have found a balance in censoring sensitive subjects to keep a sort of
balance (Greenblatt). Among these countries are; Britain, Germany and Finland, each able to
regulate the press without becoming a dictatorship (Greenblatt). These regulations can come in
handy being that the rights of free speech are more abused then they are used by the public
(Greenblatt).
However, being that we are the nation that currently holds the right of free speech as a
virtue, we have experienced these abuses first hand. The ability to be able to say and express
anything a person desires often leads to insults and offenses towards other groups or people
(Greenblatt). And being that the United States has unregulated internet, any citizen can post or
access anything they want and share it with anyone on the map as long as they too have internet.
This has led to disputes and the spread of propaganda of other countries which has caused the
country to be threatened by terrorist(Greenbalt. It gets worse, when political disputes erupt on
social networks, and the media adds fuel to the flame by making these disputes public to anyone
who is watching (Greenblatt). It doesn’t end there, the journalist who go out and try to find and
uncover secret political affairs are put in danger of being arrested or killed (Greenblatt). In
comparison to other countries, the end result is usually the latter being that any opposition or
criticism towards the government practices is heavily looked down upon (Greenblatt). This is
one of the reason why the United States are resented by other countries when the country tries to
push their values and beliefs of human rights on others (Greenblatt). Rather than letting other
countries continue with the way they are ran, our country is constantly at dispute with others,
suggesting how they should govern their citizens (Greenblatt).
As a whole, the article questions how are practiced government plays a role with the right
of free speech. It is suggested that without freedom of speech, there would be no democracy

3. (Greenblatt). In our society, the people make the choice of every leading role in the country.
However, journalist and the media in general are used as sources of information on the
candidates of who we choose and current events in general (Greenblatt). Their job is to
ultimately let the public know what’s going on in our government and around the world. As a
democratic society, this is what keeps the people informed and influence their decisions on who
they vote on to govern our nation (Greenblatt). Unfortunately, this aspect of freedom of speech
can be, and often is abused to try to force political views on the public. Stories over debates and
elections are sought out by journalist who will gladly break the law in order to get their hands on
information (Greenblatt). This issue is actually something that both sides of the debate could
come to a mutual decision on (Greenblatt). Both sides agreed that statutory regulation was not
something a democracy needed (Greenblatt). If a journalist is willingly to go far enough to break
the law in order to form a story, then they should also be willingly ready to accept the
consequences of any criminal acts they commit (Greenblatt).

4. Persuasive Essay
When thinking about the subject of freedom of speech, the positive aspects of the first
amendment are often though of first. However, it is the negative aspects and possible
consequences that others, mainly other countries are worried about (Kenyon 157). As mention
before, the power of the first amendment is more often abused rather than being productively
used (157). This is expressed in the form of hate groups and hate speeches towards particular
groups and socially sensitive topics (158). With access to the internet, anyone can post offensive
material and have it shared internationally (Kenyon 157). This in turn sparks hatred towards the
country as a whole and leads to threats of terrorist actions (158).
Furthermore, not everyone seeking to express their opinions or support certain groups are
out there out to spread social harm (Bhagwat 584). It is those that are out to spread around
propaganda and hate speech that are sought out to be regulated or at the most excluded from the
protection of the first amendment (585). Since the event of 9/11, the topic of terrorism has been
at an all-time high with worry of possible threats arising.
Unfortunately, those who do use the mass spread of information for malicious reasoning
are usually protected by the free speech clause (West 2398). If a journalism were to ever find
themselves in court, they are usually in favor (2398). This leaves little to no worry for convicting
illegal actions and poses as a threat on the privacy on an individual (2398). To add along with
that, the clause also protects the right for journalist to distribute the information to anywhere they
want in the technological world (2399). With regulated press, the worry for personal privacy
wouldn’t be at an all-time high, and journalist will face the same consequences as any other
individual.

5. Work Cited
Bhagwat, Ashutosh. "Terrorism And Associations." Emory Law Journal 63.3 (2014):
581-638. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Jan. 2015
Greenblatt, Alan. "Free Speech at Risk." CQ Researcher 26 Apr. 2013: 377-400. Web. 30
Jan. 2015.
Kenyon, Andrew T. "Free-Media-Speech: Free Speech And Public Media." International
Journal Of Media & Cultural Politics 10.2 (2014): 155-162. Academic Search Premier. Web. 30
Jan. 2015
West, Sonja R. "Press Exceptionalism." Harvard Law Review 127.8 (2014): 2434-2463.
Academic Search Premier. Web. 30 Jan. 2015