A Little Less Freedom of Speech

Brian Bass

Essay Writing

Ceci Cravens

1.25.04

1.2 Response Paper

The article is from the Boston Globe’s opinion section.  The essay is entitled “A Little Less Freedom of Speech” and is about the recent, outlandish claims of racism by minorities that inhibit freedom of speech in the general public.  The case for the article is how freedom of speech is being limited by outrageous accusations of racism.  The thesis that is supporting the case states “it doesn’t take much to get slammed as a racist these days”, meaning the writer is implying that due to certain peoples misconceptions and altered understandings, a simple phrase like “Eenie meenie minie moe” can be viewed as racist jargon. 

The following are frames that I found within the article:

1.  Jennifer Cundif, alleged racist that was found innocent of claims of racism

2.      A cabinet member of the mayor of Washington D.C., accused a racist because she used the word niggardly, which is a synonym for stingy.

3.      Students of Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska were penalized by the school’s administration because they put up posters that were deemed inappropriate and racist.

Although the writer does not have an actual works cited page, the writer cites from the Omaha World-Herald and US District Judge Kathryn Vratil.  The use of the different frames makes the writers opinion more acceptable.  When discussing the incident at the airport, the columnist makes it clear that the accusations the customers made were ludicrous.  At the end of the essay the writer makes his point eloquently, “The First Amendment says nothing about a right not to be offended. The risk of finding someone else's speech offensive is the price each of us pays for our own free speech. Free people don't run to court -- or to the principal -- when they encounter a message they don't like. They answer it with one of their own”.  What the columnist is basically saying is that in a free society everyone’s opinion is allowed and those who cannot fathom the viewpoints of others should not immediately run to there lawyer, but should defend their view through what else, free speech.