Speech Theories

In this age, it seems that people can get offended by pretty much anything said against them. People can be offended if someone says something against their race, religion, sexual orientation, social class, or childhood. This has inspired the movement for making everything "politically correct," otherwise known as rewording everything to make it as inoffensive as possible. This movement has made speech much more difficult to use, especially because people will immediately call you out if you say anything that is not politically correct. This concept of correctness is the primary reason why Promoting Tolerance is the most important speech theory of the eight.

As Lee Bollinger says in The Tolerant Society: Freedom of Speech and Extremist Speech: a tolerant society is a better society. If people can tolerate speech made against them and take a minute to listen and form their own conclusions instead of lashing out at the speaker, society will be more receptive to criticism and more introspective on their own character. Friendships are formed based on common interests and common dislikes, so when someone inevitably disagrees with an opinion that one holds dear to them, they assume that they are in the right and the opposing opinion is immediately in the wrong. Ethical and political questions that have divided the United States are all opinions, such as the arguments of gun control, abortion, and marijuana. People should definitely be entitled to their opinions, but not to the point where people outright ostracize or attack people who have differing opinions than them.

It makes sense for hate speech to be protected by the First Amendment, as people have to understand that they are in the wrong not because of their opinions, but because of their actions towards people they disagree with. If I meet someone who hates Trump and I like Trump, we would have a discussion about it and agree to disagree. Additionally, if someone openly slanders Trump and roasts him on a comedy show - which is how Stephen Colbert gets his paycheck - people should understand that he can say that without punishment. It is Colbert expressing his opinion through comedy for a specific audience, and if you don't like it, turn it off. Hate speech, though people do not like to hear it, makes sense to be protected due to its ability for people to hear other's opinions and views. Therefore, tolerance should be promoted in the First Amendment for people to learn how to accept opinions and have civilized discussions about important topics in society.