Freedom of Speech and Hate speech!!!!
- jessetorres358
- Oct 3
- 6 min read
What is freedom of speech?
As many of you are aware, freedom of speech is included in the United States Constitution.
Freedom of Speech is a principle that upholds the right of individuals or communities to express their thoughts and ideas without the fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal consequences. Which is the 1st Amendment of the United States.
Many Americans often do not distinguish between freedom of speech and hate speech. I have observed that Americans tend to want the final say, which is acceptable if it pertains to just an opinion.
Thus, freedom of speech and expression might not be considered absolute. Typical restrictions or boundaries on freedom of speech include libel, slander, obscenity, pornography, sedition, incitement, fighting words, hate speech, classified information, copyright infringement, trade secrets, food labeling, non-disclosure agreements, the right to privacy, dignity, the right to be forgotten, public security, blasphemy, and perjury.
Numerous countries have constitutional provisions safeguarding freedom of speech. In political discussions, terms like free speech, freedom of speech, and freedom of expression are frequently used interchangeably. Nevertheless, in legal contexts, freedom of expression more comprehensively includes the right to seek, receive, and share information or ideas, irrespective of the medium employed.
In 2025, chaos is erupting as Americans are keen to handle situations independently. Shootings are happening across the United States, with fatalities occurring in schools, homes, and even at rallies.
So why is there so much animosity, especially racial animosity? People have become so harsh that they feel the need to shame someone simply because they immigrated illegally from another country.
My classmates have forgotten that we had friends in high school with whom we used to hang out. I recall seeing many kids from Mexico who were so intelligent that they built successful lives.
Recently, a man was fatally shot at a college rally. The media referred to him as a right-wing political activist. I wasn't aware of him until his death, and I would like to share some of the beliefs he held. His name was "Charlie Kirk".
Abortion
Kirk was a staunch opponent of abortion. During a debate in September 2024 organized by Jubilee Media, he contended that abortion equates to murder and should be outlawed. He rejected exceptions even in cases of rape, including for children as young as 10. Kirk likened abortion to the Holocaust, asserting that it is even worse.
Gun Rights and the second Amendment
Kirk was a gun owner and advocate for gun rights, opposing gun control measures. Following the Parkland school shooting in February 2018, he represented the National Rifle Association in Parkland, Florida. A student invited Kirk to a pro-gun event at the school where the shooting occurred, but the event was canceled. He suggested that guns, armed guards, and gun detectors could be used to prevent shootings in schools and campuses. During a TPUSA event in Salt Lake City, Utah, in April 2023, Kirk stated: "I think it's worth it, I think it's worth having a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights."
LGBTQ Issues!!!
Kirk initially showed some respect for LGBTQ rights by endorsing secularism in 2018. However, by 2022, he had changed his stance, frequently made anti-LGBTQ statements and opposed transgender rights and healthcare. On November 22, 2019, Kirk stated, "I believe marriage is one man, one woman," but also mentioned that gay individuals should be welcomed in the conservative movement. In 2022, during an episode of the Charlie Kirk show on YouTube, Kirk criticized the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. He referred to LGBTQ activists as the "alphabet mafia" and claimed that the movement goes beyond "just about two dudes being able to get married." Kirk described Obergefell as a "national takeover of our laws" and argued that conservatives wrongly assumed the same-sex marriage issue in the United States would be resolved after the ruling. He concluded that "they are not happy just having marriage" and "want to corrupt your children."
Race White Americans!!!
Kirk expressed beliefs about the decline and victimization of White Americans, reflecting grievance politics. In 2015, he claimed he lost a West Point slot to a candidate of "a different ethnicity and gender." In 2018, Kirk told a college audience that white privilege is a myth and a "racist idea." Assuming "more hard-right positions," he told his radio podcast followers in 2021 that Democratic immigration policies aimed to "diminish and decrease white demographics in America" and suggested Texas should "deputize a citizen force and put them on the border" to protect "white demographics in America." In 2023, Kirk claimed that "prowling Blacks go around for fun to target white people" in urban America. In 2024, he stated, "The great replacement strategy, which is well underway every single day at our southern border, is a strategy to replace white rural America with something different," adding, "The American Democrat party hates this country. They want to see it collapse. They love it when America becomes less white." Kirk further posted, "The 'Great Replacement' is not a theory, it's a reality," alongside a Fox News headline that falsely claimed: "7.2M illegals entered the U.S. under Biden administration, an amount greater than the population of 36 states."
What constitutes hate?
Hate stems from a fear of vulnerability, as you might ridicule my most profound thoughts and emotions. It arises from a fear of losing control, implying that we could be powerless over our own life and the illusion that we can influence others. Hate is also a recollection of past violence inflicted by someone who undermined our sense of self, leading us to distrust life and develop a fear of it.
When hate evolves into violence, it serves as a shield against fear—We can evade fear by replacing it with hate, which strengthens instead of softening our heart. Hate has the ability to influence behavior because it rejects the idea that there is any source for the hate other than the other person. They are the reason we hate. They are the issue. Naturally, we hate them; they warrant our hatred.
The impact of hate is twofold. Firstly, hate has numerous effects on those targeted by it. Hate within a country can lead to physical injury or even fatalities. Hate expressed publicly can endanger and take the lives of community members.
However, the less apparent consequence is that hate leaves a void within the person who harbors it. This void can only be filled with more hate. Nothing else is acceptable or can justify the need for hate. As the emptiness becomes more apparent, the individual feels compelled to hate even more—this void is terrifying. The greater the fear of it, the more one cultivates hate based on that fear.
We need to find a way to refrain from acting on feelings of hate. If we merely express our hatred, it leaves little room for introspection. On the other hand, experiencing this feeling without acting on it might be uncomfortable, prompting us to address it, possibly by seeking therapy.
Next, we must summon the courage and bravery to look beyond the hate and discover the underlying fear. By identifying this fear, we can trace its roots and begin to untangle the constraints that prevent us from living the life we aspire to—the life we think others possess or have deprived us of. Choosing to take the necessary risks to achieve that life indicates that we are less fearful and, as a result, not as overwhelmed by hate. Ultimately, attaining that life is our true goal. Hating others is never the solution, so strive not to let hate to conquer your soul.
I suggest that if you're going to share an opinion about someone, ensure it's not negative. This young man shouldn't have lost his life because of his views. Regardless of whether you own a gun, don't use it as if you have the power to make someone disappear. If you truly love God, you will love and accept people with different beliefs. May this young man rest in peace, and my condolences go out to all his family and friends. Murder and hatred are never the solution.
Conclusion!!!!
This generation is collectively facing a loss of control, and our minds are finding it difficult to handle the stress. Many of us were taught a story about how life should work: Work hard. Make wise choices. Stay informed. Approach the future with kindness and love.
Story By Britney J Torres
Great story.... We definitely need more love in this generation.