Freedom of Speech

I want to explain the First Amendment to Americans, many of whom seem confused about freedom of speech in America.

The First Amendment to the Constitution prohibits Congress from passing a law that restricts free speech, and it guarantees certain other rights. The First Amendment does not guarantee that you won’t lose your job, get sued, be shunned, have your TV show cancelled, or suffer similar consequences because of what you say.

I write this because after ABC pulled the plug on the Roseanne sitcom, people complained that ABC was infringing on Roseanne Barr’s first amendment rights. That is not the case at all. The Roseanne situation has nothing at all to do with the First Amendment. The First Amendment protects you from our government punishing you for your words. You are free to express your thoughts and beliefs, but you can be criticized, laughed at, or despised for your words. Ironically, everyone has a right to do those things because of the First Amendment. It works both ways.