These 3 speeches should give you some ideas on your request. Remember that the idea is for the student to acquire certain skills while she or he is learning. It is not worth being expelled for this significant oversight.
I hope you are very responsible.
Also, there are software programs that can search the internet and match original versus copied material.
GOOD LUCK MY FRIEND
February 17, 2006
Does free speech require responsibility?
If I hear one more person say that, "yes, I believe in free speech, but
with free speech comes responsibility" I will run out of the building
screaming. Well, maybe I won't actually do that, but I will be annoyed.
That has been the line of those who condemn the Danish cartoonists.
Actually, beyond some basics -- the old yelling fire in a theater and
other direct incitements to mayhem and violence -- the whole idea of
free speech is that it is free. The speaker gets to decide what to say,
not some outside observer. It doesn't need to fit anyone's idea of
responsibility.
If my speech was dependent on others believing what I say to be
responsible, then I have no speech rights. I have heard many times in
my criticisms of public officials that I am being irresponsible for
criticising them. My opinion: too bad. Toughen up and grow up.
It's my decision what to say, not my critics' decision. Of course, that
doesn't mean we have the right to say or write anything we want at any
time. My employer sets standards on my writing and other private and
public organizations set standards for speech. But those who make the
speech/responsibility argument really are arguing for people to shut
up. They won't come out and say they oppose free speech, so they say
they are for it. But they don't want you to exercise your rights
because they don't like what you have to say. They are offended by what
you say and in their view that should trump your right to say it. They
might not use the law to silence you (although many people would use
it), but they do want to shame you or scare you into staying silent.
They want self-censorship if not actual censorship.
On another point, critics of the Danish cartoonists say that no one
should insult another person's religion. That's nonsense also. I am a
religious person, but I don't want my Christian religion pandered to
and shielded from criticism. I sometimes find some criticisms of
Christianity offensive, but I don't want critics to shut up. I want
religious ideas to play a greater role in the public square. But that
means that those ideas must be subject to criticism. You can't have it
both ways -- insisting that one's religious ideas be taken seriously
then act like a shrinking violet when people attack those ideas.
If I think you should believe in the virgin birth, then I should be
willing to allow you to debate that idea and criticize that idea and
even lampoon that idea. That's what an intellectual give and take is
all about. I can't be intellectually honest and tell you to believe
what I believe, then claim some right not to be offended when you argue
against that idea.
Nonreligious people can be equally sensitive, as debates over
intelligent design suggest. Hard-core evolutionists want to shut down
discussions of intelligent design. But why? Let the debate roll on. Let
the sacred cows be slaughtered. In a free society -- and most of the
people burning down buildings over the cartoons don't live in free
societies -- you have no right not to be offended. And, yes, writers
and cartoonists will write things simply to shock readers. Big deal.
That's called freedom.
People who are easily offended, religious or otherwise, need to grow up
and take part in the great debate of ideas rather than try to shut down
those who they don't agree with.
Posted at February 17, 2006 04:45 PM
March 03, 2006
With free speech comes responsibility
The author of a Danish children’s book on the prophet Muhammad made a mistake by seeking to illustrate her book and not taking the hint at the lack of volunteers. The Danish newspaper made a follow-up mistake when it decided to venture out on deeply disrespectful limbs of free speech. The right to freedom of speech should not be an excuse for making poor choices.
With the power of freedom of speech, there is inherent responsibility to be attentive to diverse faiths and not downgrade rules that others hold close to their hearts. We should not interpret our privilege as some absolute green light to say whatever we want whenever we want about anything we want.
This issue clearly illustrates how free speech cannot be a peaceful human right unless tempered with strong personal integrity grounded on principles of tolerance and respect for our fellow man, his faiths and the rules therein.
Peter Copeland
Greensboro
Think first: With freedom of speech comes responsibility
Try as you might, it would have been hard not to feel something Monday night as the fireworks popped and the patriotic music played. Celebrating the Fourth of July is just that way. In between the bursts of color, you can’t help but think of the history of a nation and the pride that goes along with fighting for, and maintaining, the right to be free.
There were the usual speeches by our leaders and statements by regular people about what this country and the freedoms it offers mean to them.
And there was, of course, a whole lot of flag-waving.
But there were other comments that resonated through the country this holiday weekend. They had some powerful imagery, too, and perhaps might have motivated a few people who haven’t seemed to do too much thinking lately to reconsider a position or two as they listened.
On many of the talk shows and in many newspaper columns, there were comments and letters from servicemen and women and their families about the effect the recent comments by some U.S. leaders about Iraq and alleged prisoner abuse have had on the troops overseas.
Not all, but many, of the families said hearing the criticism, which many of those serving thought was unfair and misguided, did little to cheer the men and women so far from their homes and families. Most of them ended their comments with the admonition that although the comments hurt, they would not deter these servicemen and women from the mission they felt was worthy and necessary.
The soldiers, sailors and Marines’ reactions should remind us that although we have the right to express our views — that is part of the package that our ancestors fought for so long ago — we should do so responsibly.
In this digital age, it only takes a moment for a piece of tape to be cut and comments to be broadcast around the world. And sometimes, those comments are used to fire up the very people our troops are trying to contain. It can’t be easy for these heroes to hear someone run down their efforts, especially when the words “U.S. Senator” precede his name.
Let’s look hard at the war in Iraq, measure its effectiveness and proceed with caution. There is nothing wrong with asking our leaders to treat this as their top priority and to insist they continually examine what the next best move should be.
But let’s also remember that freedom comes with responsibility, and that there is so much more at stake here than a political position and the right to say whatever we think whenever we think it.
Perhaps we could use today as the first day of a new campaign — to encourage our leaders to think a little bit before they speak.
Then, we can get about the business of getting back to protecting our freedom and moving our country forward.
By Renee Carey
Published in Editorials on July 5, 2005 01:20 PM