In our Free Speech and Responsibility class we reviewed abolitionist’s speeches, including Fredrick Douglass’ Plea for Free Speech. Our class discussion brought up some interesting ideas for me. First off I think Douglass had advanced ideas for his time. I think he was one of the early feminist of his time within the limits of his generation. You may argue that he didn’t blatantly include women, but he made it clear that the freedom of expression is an intrinsic part of humanity as a whole.
“No right was deemed by the fathers of the Government more sacred than the right of speech.” This was an interesting quote from Douglass because he included himself in the group he says the fathers deemed worthy of this right. It is interesting because in reality the fathers of the government where thinking of themselves and their kind of wealthy business owning ‘white’ Europeans.
Lastly I think that the most important part of our class discussion and the idea of free speech is that deliberation needs ears to listen, to contemplate, to change. Free Speech includes the freedom to hear and to be heard because this is the basis for the freedom expression.
1 comment:
I completely agree that Frederick Douglas was ahead of his time. It’s amazing to imagine the amount of strength and courage he had in order to speak out. Many times it’s difficult for people to speak out for themselves especially if they are placed in a position of little power. The men that wrote the Constitution were suppose to have everyone’s best interests in mind instead they wrote it solely with their own interests in mind. I feel that in a situation such as that one it was crucial for someone such as Douglas to have the courage to speak out for those who could not or were too scared to speak for themselves.
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