The Ethics of Hate Essay Example for Free

The Ethics of Hate Essay The First Amendment principles of free speech have been under attack since the Amendment came into being. The very nature of speech gives rise to argument because it is a personal undertaking; something that belongs to the individual alone. An individual’s beliefs can not be judged, and speech is an expression of those beliefs. Thus, the question: Is it wrong to allow speech that strikes at the heart of an individual? The hatefulness of speech is a subjective matter that can not properly be defined by government and, therefore is an unreasonable restriction of first amendment rights. The goal of the free speech doctrine is centered upon an ethical debate; that is, how much freedom should be given to citizens of a free society while still providing a protected environment in which to live? (Weinstein 11) The Constitution is very clear on the right to freedom of expression when it states that, â€Å"Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech. † However, the interpretation of the First Amendment by the Supreme Court in Schenck v. United States put the first real restriction on free speech when it imposed the qualification that speech could not give rise to a â€Å"clear and present danger† (Weinstein 17). This first restriction led to the rule being broadened to such an extent that it caused suppression of unpopular political speech (Weinstein 19). The Supreme Court later narrowed the rule to outlaw any speech that tended to incite dangerous action. Once again, the rule was abused and often used to stifle minority speech, one of the very groups the Amendment was meant to protect. (Weinstein) So, the dilemma has continued and still rages, especially with regard to â€Å"hate† speech. There is no rational argument that hate is good. Yet, when hate is embodied in open speech, is that speech itself the culprit or the speaker? What is hateful to one person may not be to another, so is it the proper thing to do to censor all speech that is interpreted as hateful by anyone? Most authorities agree that, â€Å"[h]ate speech includes the use of hurtful, biased expression; threats of violence based on sex, race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation; and offensive songs, jokes or events, such as fraternity slave auctions (Miller, and Andsager). Some of these forms of speech are indeed hurtful, even reprehensible, but at the same time they represent a fundamental truth of our society; individual ideas should not be censored because those in authority find them morally wrong or personally offensive (Weinstein 16). Those that would support a ban on hate speech raise the position that it is for the benefit of society as a whole that restrictions should be imposed. They rightfully point out that hate breeds hate and we, as a community, should take the responsibility of seeing that the spread of hateful beliefs is stopped. Cortese states that, â€Å"[s]ocietys mainstream culture, or a subculture, transmits the building blocks of hate speech to children as much at home as throughout the community† (3). While the goal of living in a society free of discrimination, hate and fear is an admirable one, it can not be achieved by curtailing our civil liberties. Neither can it be attained by smothering the best hope for change – the university and college campuses where traditionally the dramatic transformations of societal norms have always taken place. Restrictive speech codes on college campuses have periodically surfaced, usually during times of civil unrest. However, in the late 1980’s there was an alarming number of universities implementing restrictive codes in some form or another. The proliferation of restrictive campus speech codes was wholly unprecedented: never had there been such strong support for punishing offensive speech (Walker 127). There was such a rise of discriminatory behavior on college campuses that the courts began applying cases outlawing a â€Å"hostile environment† for minorities to the Universities. Even the courts realized, however, that campus speech codes could not be all inclusive and acknowledged that [a]cademic freedom sometimes includes the discussion of controversial subjects such as gay marriage, evolution, or affirmative action (Cortese 2). The very core of our democratic ideals is traced to the free exchange of opinions in our educational environments. If free expression of one’s thoughts can not be safely uttered inside the walls of universities, then we have given up the right chart our own futures; and the ideal society that we all strive will no longer exist. Individual rights are the very essence of our democracy. To unreasonably restrict those rights defeats the its every purpose An ethical responsibility to treat everyone in our society with respect and tolerance most certainly exists, but that respect can not just be for the politically correct groups. It also has to be applied to all those who the majority of us despise in order for it to mean anything. Though `hate speech` is harsh and hurtful, it is protected by the First Amendment and therefore, should not be regulated by the government or college campuses.

Censorship and Internet Essay -- essays research papers

Censorship and the Internet The Internet is the fastest growing and largest tool for mass communication and information distribution in the world. People use the Internet for communication, expressing their opinions, or obtaining unlimited information access. Nowadays, the issue of wether is it necessary to have censorship on the Internet is being argued all over the world. Censoring the Internet can protect children from strangers, filter unpleasant material and prevent young people imitating negative behaviour. However, it is apparent that filtering the Internet is against the freedom of information, anti-educational and it is difficult to develop people’s ideas and views. This essay aims to discuss the issue of restricted information on the Internet. It will be argued that censorship of the Internet interferes with people having a broad range of ideas, views and experiences. It could be argued that Internet censorship might protect children from interacting one-on-one with strangers on the Internet. Children are innocent, so they often trust stranger who they talk with via the Internet. According to National Opinion Poll (2000, cited in Allbon & Williams 2002:1), for the sake of receiving free samples, gifts or information or even to start up a friendship, one third of 7-16-year-old Internet users would give out their home address. Furthermore, a study by National Academic Press (2002:3) indicates that chatting with strangers is the potential harm to children becaus...

Titration Lab

Lab Report: Titration Lab Prepare a solution of a given concentration; understand titration including acid-base reactions, pH, stoichiometry and molar equivalence. Chemicals and equipment: NaOH pellets close to purity, HCl 3M, phenolphtalein Beckers, flasks, burette, magnetic or manual stir pHmeter Waste management: The waste disposal will be handled through neutralization of your excess reactant to a pH between 4. 0 and 10. 0 and disposal with abundant rinsing. As a preparation for the lab you may want to practice with The experiment: We will do a titration in which the reaction type is acid-base.The equivalence point is characterized by a sharp change of pH which can be followed with a pHmeter. A graph of pH versus concentration will indicate the molar equivalence at the inflexion point of the curve. The point observed experimentally is never exactly the molar equivalence but a â€Å"best estimate† and is given the name â€Å"end point†. It is easier and cheaper to id entify the end point with an indicator instead a pHmeter. Some chemicals such as phenolphthalein will change color when the pH changes sharply between two given values called the indicator’s range.The range of phenolphthalein is 8. 3 to 10. 0. The shape of a pH curve varies widely with the type of reactants and needs to be taken into account when choosing an indicator. We will titrate a strong base (NaOH) of unknown concentration with a strong acid (HCl). The objective is to find the purity of NaOH pellets. The pellets are close to purity but not 100 % because NaOH is very hydrophilic and the pellets are likely to be slightly hydrated. The procedure: The first part of the laboratory experiment will be the preparation of the reactants and the choice of an indicator.You will need to prepare the analyte, a solution of NaOH, of a chosen concentration and volume and prepare a solution of HCl, the titrant, accordingly. Accordingly means that the end point should be reached after th e delivery of manageable volume. If a 50. ml burette is used the volume to be delivered should be between 15. ml and 40 ml. The chosen concentration of NaOH means the concentration of NaOH that you would obtain if the tablets were pure, with the understanding the objective of the titration is to give you a more accurate measurement that you will use to calculate the purity of the tablet.Acid-base chemistry tells us that the reaction between the hydronium and hydroxide ions is extensive and that the pH of the equivalence point should be close to 7. You will design a titration procedure indicating the reactants, the equipment, the data to be collected and the calculations. You will then proceed with two or three measurements depending on the precision of the first two. Your report will review the chemical background, present the data and the result and justify in your error analysis the number of significant figures of your reported concentration.Trial 2| | Initial Volume of HCL in bu rret 0. 1M| 50. 00 ml| Drops of phenolphtalein| 2| Volume of NaOh in beaker 0. 1M| 15. 0 ml| Final measurement after titration| 24. 4| Initial PH| 12. 8| Final PH| 6. 8| Data: Trial 1| | Initial Volume of HCL in burret 0. 1M| 50. 0ml| Drops of phenolphtalein| 2| Volume of NaOh in beaker 0. 1M| 15. 0ml| Final measurement after titration| 24. 3| Initial PH| 12. 9| Final PH| 6. 5| Calculations HCl + NaOH > NaCl + H2O moles HCl = moles NaOH MHCl  x volumeHCl  = MNaOH  x volumeNaOHMHCl  = MNaOH  x volumeNaOH  / volumeHCl MHCl  = 25. 00 ml x 1. 00 M / 50. 00 ml MHCl  = 0. 50 M HCl Conclusion A titration was performed using 50ml of 0. 1M HCl and appropriate amount of NaOH solution. Titration was repeated 2 times to find the amount of NaOH used to achieve endpoint. 24. 2 And 24. 5 is final measurement. The average of the trial is 24. 3 mL. The molarity of NaOH was found by using the M1V1 = M2V2 equation, resulting in 1. 1 M of NaOH. Discussion In the Titrations Lab, 50. 0 mL of 0. M HCl and appropriate amount of NaOH were titrated to find  the molarity of NaOH and the pH of the solution after x mL of NaOH has been added. The lab discussed the difference between equivalence point, the point at which the reaction between titrant and unknown is complete, and the endpoint, the point where the indicator turns color. The color change occurs when the concentration of more dominant form is ten times as great as the less dominant. However, color changes in a solution does not necessarily equal to the equivalence point.Equivalence point can be found by observing the indicator, or using a pH meter and finding midpoint of vertical line in the titration curve. Endpoints can be found by observing the color change of the indicator. The titration lab also involved indicators. Indicators are substances which undergoes a color change in the pH interval of the equivalence point, allowing physical observation of pH change. Most indicators are weak acids, so protons shif t from acid to conjugate base. The concentrations of indicators in a solution do not change molarity value.

All that Heaven Allows by Douglas Sirk - 920 Words

In the 1950’s the melodrama genre came to age and there is no better example than Douglas Sirk’s All that Heaven Allows. The melodrama followed some basic characteristics which can be identified in the film. First and foremost the narrative of the melodrama focused on the family. All that Heaven Allows follows the narrative of the typical melodrama but at the same time also challenges the social conventions. While Sirk follows many of the key themes he does so in a more detached fashion. The protagonist Cary is bound to her community by her social class. Change was occurring in society and the melodrama displayed people’s restraint to this. In All that Heaven Allows Sirk began his focus on the female and her desires in contrast to the more conservative male focused melodrama. As with the melodrama the legibility of the story, displayed through the plot, is simple and easy to follow. â€Å"Our engagement with the story depends on our understanding of the pattern of change and stability, cause and effect, time and space† (Bordwell and Thompson, 2008). The linear time flow of the film allows for it’s simple understanding. This is added to by the expressiveness of the melodrama, where everything is brought into the open and nothing is left unsaid. The expressiveness of the melodrama is also represented in the highly expressive mise-en-scene. Sirks use of colour, the human figure, camera work, lighting and music allow him to portray suppressed meaning and significance. (b)Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Douglas Sirk s All That Heaven Allows1586 Words   |  7 PagesEvident in All That Heaven Allows, Douglas Sirk was highly critical of mainstream American society during the post-war era (Sirk Fischer, pg. 135). As a renowned exponent of classical Hollywood narratives, his mastery of mise-en-scene and storytelling critiqued society through timeless and influential films. Starring Jane Wyman as Cary Scott and Rock Hudson as Ron Kirby, Sirk’s adaptation is a narrative of love that defies social conformity in an era where politics of class and gender were highlyRead MoreEssay about Film Analysis of All That Heaven Allows1806 Words   |  8 PagesFilm Analysis of All That Heaven Allows Chosen sequence: Golden Rain Tree/Carys bedroom scene. Before the emergence of auteur theory the director Douglas Sirk was a renowned exponent of classical Hollywood narrative, particularly in the genre of romantic melodrama, of which his film All That Heaven Allows is a classic example. However, he is now regarded as a master of mise-en-scene, one of the few tools left to a director working within the constraints of theRead MoreMelodrama and Heaven Allows Essay2136 Words   |  9 Pagesfilms. Discuss the differences and similarities between their uses of Sirkian melodrama in their films Ali: Fear Eats the Soul and Far From Heaven. In developing your analysis you should engage with theoretical debates about these filmmakers’s work and theories of melodrama, and you should support your analysis through close reading of the films Douglas Sirk, a Danish-German film director, is best known for being the father of Melodrama. He is commonly referred to as a master of the weepie (WillemenRead MoreAll that Heaven Allows Film Review1811 Words   |  7 Pagesunderstand films and their influence on society. They also reveal much about the society from which they originated. In this essay, I will explore the different ideological messages conveyed in films with reference to All That Heaven Allows (Douglas Sirk, 1955). The film All That Heaven Allows lends itself strongly to the classic melodrama genre, a genre well known for being dramatic, emotional and exaggerated in order to tug on the viewer’s heartstrings. Melodramas usually portray the typical clichà ©Read MoreAll that Heaven Allows Movie Analysis1587 Words   |  6 Pagesportrayed to be conservative, there were number of ‘socially conscious or critical films’ (Kellner, 1979). For instance, All that Heaven Allow, (1955). Other that showing the ‘conservative’ side, questions like dominant myth and value to be asked. In this research essay, writer will be analyzing 3 major ideology that can was explored in All That Heaven Allows, 1955, directed by Douglas Sirk, which are the politics of class, gender and ethnicity. However, writer will be focusing more in the politics of