Free speech for the dumb?
Laura Schlessinger recently found herself embroiled in controversy after using racial epithets several times on her talk radio show. This incident has led Dr. Schlessinger to abandon her program, proclaiming “”I want my First Amendment rights back, which I can’t have on radio without the threat of attack on my advertisers and stations.”
Over at NPR, Linda Holmes argues that being economically pressured for her speech is not a violation of her First Amendment rights. As Holmes draws the distinction, the Constitution guarantees that speech will be “free from government interference,” not “free from consequences.”
The article brings up not only questions of free speech, but also questions about the respect owed to other ideals cherished in a liberal democracy.
-Han
Photo by Flickr user Ian Hayhurst used under a Creative Commons Attribution license.
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- Free speech and Islam
- Fish on the First, Continued
- Is it unfair to televise an Obama speech?
- Mandatory public philosophy courses in high school?
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