Freedom of Speech Has Risen
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THE NATION’S NEWSPAPER 2006 Secondary Case Study www.usatodayeducation.com House approves amendment to protect U.S. flag Freedom of By Andrea Stone 2-3 Whither academic freedom? Speech: Summary By G. Jeffrey MacDonald 3-4 Following the July 2005 terrorist strikes in Britain, a law was How free should speech be at introduced limiting extremist speech. This law reflects the campus games? sentiment of British citizens that British society has been overly tolerant of free speech, paving the way for terrorist extremism. By Erik Brady 4-6 The proposed law would make “extremist speech” a crime. In the United States, as the September 11 attacks recede from First Amendment gains recent memory, U.S. citizens have begun to feel safer and their support for freedom of speech has risen. Even though there is support as fears ease vocal support for freedom of speech in the U.S., many citizens and elected representatives continue to support curbs on By Mark Memmott 6-7 speech that they consider offensive, including flag burning, ideology in schools, and offensive language in the public Discussion Questions, domain. Future Implications, This case study explores freedom of speech and current Activity Extensions issues involved in balancing freedom of speech against limits 7- 8 protecting the broader social good. World Blair: Extremists no longer welcome in UK the government determines are not Crackdown on radicals redefines acting in the “public good.” The new grounds for deportation and exclusion rules of deportations, free speech include fostering hatred, advocating violence to further a person’s beliefs or By Donna Leinwand through political activism. The party on justifying or validating such violence. USA TODAY its website and in pamphlets denounces Blair says radical Muslim groups have Britain and the United States as taken advantage of tolerant policies to set “crusaders” bent on destroying Islam. up hate groups on British soil. In a news LONDON — The Hizb ut-Tahrir Party Now, a month after four bombers conference Friday, he mentioned two by wants to bring Islamic rule to the world attacked London’s transportation system, name: Hizb ut-Tahrir and its related one country at a time. killing themselves and 52 others, Blair has organization, Al Muhajiroun. But Prime Minister Tony Blair vows that announced a crackdown on extremism. Blair says the government will compile won’t happen from its offices in Britain. The policy, which is based on existing a list of extremist websites, bookstores, The Islamic organization has operated government powers, more sharply networks, centers and organizations. freely in Britain for more than 20 years, defines the boundaries of free speech “Active engagement with any of these writing, leafleting and rousing the faithful and broadens the grounds for deporting will be a trigger” for deportation, he said. to overthrow secular governments and excluding people from Britain who Such deportations may violate the Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, THURSDAY, AUGUST 11, 2005, PAGE 9A country’s human rights and free speech found that Britons support strong group by the U.S. government. He has said protections, says Gareth Crossman, government actions to prevent another he would be willing to blow himself up for director of policy for Liberty, a civil attack. A survey of 1,506 adults for The the Palestinian cause. Hizb ut-Tahrir has liberties organization in Britain. If the Times of London by the polling company called on Muslims to go to Afghanistan and deportations are challenged in court and Populus found that 60% supported Iraq to fight the United States and its allies. the courts reject them, Blair says he would deporting foreign Muslims who speak in Spokesman for these groups denied that consider asking Parliament to rewrite support of suicide bombings or encourage their activities crossed the line into Britain’s human rights law to more closely extremism. incitement. The new rules, they said, may parallel the European treaty on human “It’s made us question whether we’re instead drive more people toward rights, under which other European too multicultural,” says Aleksandra extremism by limiting outlets for them to governments, such as France and Olenska, a fashion editor in London and a vent their frustration with British society Germany, have deported radical clerics. British citizen. and politics. “The rules of the game are changing,” Josh Bull, 35, an Australian who has “This is a blurring of the margins of Blair said Friday. lived in London for seven years, says he people who are engaged in non-violent Britain has a history of welcoming enjoys the city's cultural mix, but says political speech, an attempt to bunch people whose unpopular views have Britain needs to draw a line. “I think where them in with extremists and terrorists,” forced them out of their home countries. the British have screwed up is allowing all Hizb ut-Tahrir spokesman Imran Waheed London, in particular, has become home those hate preachers,” Bull says. says. “In fact, we are directing people’s to so many Muslim organizations that Under the new rules, several highly anger and frustration into political work.” some columnists have dubbed it visible groups and clerics also may be Waheed denies that the party uses “hate “Londonistan.” subject to monitoring, and possibly speech.” Britain had already rejected similar anti- banned, such as the Muslim Association of Hizb ut-Tahrir has been described by the terrorism laws after the Sept. 11, 2001, Britain and cleric Omar Bakri Muhammad. British government as non-violent, but attacks on New York City and Washington, Bakri, a Syrian who was granted asylum anti-Semitic and anti-Western. finding some inconsistent with its values. in Britain after he wasdeported from Saudi The Muslim Association of Britain said it The courts had also struck down on Arabia in 1985, has said in speeches in had “grave concern” about Blair’s human rights grounds some previous London’s main square that he won’t rest announcement. It reiterated its attempts at deportations. until the flag of Islam flies over No. 10 condemnation of terrorism that targets Blair, however, is betting that the Downing Street, the prime minister’s “innocent people,” including the London country has changed its mind after two official residence. bombings. attacks in one month. “The mood is now Azzam Tamimi, spokesman for the “I actually have a moderating influence, different,” Blair said. Muslim Association of Britain, supports rather than radicalizing influences,” Polls conducted after the bombings Hamas, which is considered a terrorist Tamimi says of his writings and speeches. AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2005, PAGE 6A Washington House approves amendment to protect U.S. flag By Andrea Stone failed four times to get out of the Senate Democrats Hillary Rodham USA TODAY Senate. Clinton of New York and Ken Salazar of Those on both sides of the issue say Colorado have never voted on the WASHINGTON — A constitutional this may be the year. Vote counts by issue, but each stated positions in their amendment to ban desecration of the the Citizens Flag Alliance, which campaigns. During her 2000 race, U.S. flag moved closer to reality supports the amendment, and the Clinton said she opposed a flag Wednesday when the House of American Civil Liberties Union, which amendment. On Wednesday, she Representatives passed it 286-130. opposes it, show the Senate could be repeated her opposition but endorsed It was the seventh time the House only two votes shy of the 67 needed to legislation to outlaw desecration. has approved an amendment since the send the measure to the states for Salazar told the United Veterans U.S. Supreme Court overturned a ratification. Committee of Colorado last year that Texas law in 1989 and the next year “I’m optimistic this Senate will find he supported the amendment. He ruled the federal Flag Protection Act the handful of votes we’ve lacked in now says he plans to “study it hard.” unconstitutional. Although the bill has the past to protect the American flag,” The amendment reads, “The been endorsed by all 50 states, it has Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said. Congress shall have power to prohibit Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved. Page 2 AS SEEN IN USA TODAY NEWS SECTION, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2005, PAGE 6A the physical desecration of the flag of more than just star-studded fabric.” religion may not be far behind.” the United States.” Supporters say the Opponents warn the amendment A Senate vote has not been flag should be protected because it would alter the Bill of Rights to scheduled. Debates on Social Security symbolizes the freedoms many have exclude an expression of free speech. and a possible Supreme Court died to defend. Flag burning “is a It “elevates a symbol of freedom over vacancy could take precedence. Two- challenge to the institution that freedom itself,” Rep. John Conyers, D- thirds of the House and Senate must defends liberty,” Rep. Phil Gingrey, R- Mich., said. “Once we decide to limit approve the amendment. Three- Ga., said. “Our flag deserves to be freedom of speech, limitations on fourths, or 38, of the states must respected and protected because it is freedom of the press and freedom of ratify it. AS SEEN IN USA TODAY LIFE SECTION, WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2005, PAGE 9D Whither academic freedom? speaking classes solely because State legislatures she argued a conservative viewpoint in her assignments. A are battleground state law, she says, would provide an avenue of recourse when a as divisive issue student feels victimized on the basis of her political beliefs. gains momentum “It takes away from my college experience at Penn State if I have By G.