Rights Assignment

1. My right is the freedom of speech- Liberty to express opinions and ideas without hindrance, and especially without fear of punishment. *http://www.answers.com/topic/freedom-of-speech
2. My right exists because it is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognized in international human rights law in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). It also exists because people couldn't partake in public decision-making if they couldn't express their views freely. *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech *http://www.hrea.org/index.php?base_id=147
3. Exercising freedom of speech means to express your opinions, even if they differ from others'. It also means speaking up for what you believe and what you want, and possibly trying to persuade others to follow in your beliefs and footsteps as well. *http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/lieberman_exercises_freedom_of_speech.php *http://www.duluthcitizensblog.com/
4. There are no specific limitations to freedom of speech, however, it is said to avoid unnecessary danger. *http://www.hrcr.org/chart/limitations+duties/limits_specific.html

FALSE! After looking more into depth, I found that there are limitations! They are defamation (harmful words to one's reputation), causing panic (fake emercency), fighting words, incitement to crime (incite someone else to commit crime), sedition, obscenity, offense, and establishment of religion. *http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/freedom1.html *http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data/constitution/amendment01/06.html

5. I took this first article to mean that freedom of speech has no interference. If there were, it would violate Article 19. *http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/opinion/articles1920_iccpr/docs/experts_papers/Schmidt.doc

The limitations from #4 exist because they are consistant with the harm principal. This way everyone can be happy! *http://www.csulb.edu/~jvancamp/freedom1.html

6. If I had to give up the right to freedom of speech, I would want, in return, freedom of the press. If I couldn't express my opinions by word of mouth, I'd at least want to express them by writing.