Freedom of Expression Must Include the License to Offend

Topics: Culture

Public Release Date: October 17, 2006

Heralding the First Amendment, proponents of free speech champion the right to expression unencumbered by government intervention. But is freedom of expression absolute and limitless? Should we be free to use words with the intention to harm? Should some words remain unspoken, or does this mind-set lead us to the path of censorship?

ARGUING YES:

• Philip Gourevitch: Editor of the Paris Review and a long-time staff writer for the New Yorker

• Christopher Hitchens: British author, journalist, literary critic and public intellectual who is often described as a “contrarian”

• Signe Wilkinson: Editorial Cartoonist for the Philadelphia Daily News

ARGUING NO:

• David Cesarani: Research Professor in History at Royal Holloway, University of London

• Daisy Khan: Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement

• Mari Matsuda: Professor of Law at Georgetown University Law Center

MODERATOR:

• John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist