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The origin of freedom of speech is Mark 9:39, when Jesus forbids stopping others who preach in his name. The colonial preachers took that to heart, and from them it became part of the American culture and the Bill of Rights.
[[File:Freedom of Speech by Norman Rockwell, 1943.png|thumb|Freedom of Speech by [[Norman Rockwell]], 1943.]]
[[File:Freedom of Speech by Norman Rockwell, 1943.png|thumb|Freedom of Speech by [[Norman Rockwell]], 1943.]]
'''Freedom of speech''' in American law refers to the recognition by the Founders that government interference in the reporting of facts and expression of opinions in lectures, speeches, sermons, street harangues and private conversation frequently does more harm than good. They therefore prevented Congress from enacting any law that would curtail this freedom.
'''Freedom of speech''' in American law refers to the recognition by the [[Founders]] that government interference in the reporting of facts and expression of opinions in lectures, speeches, sermons, street harangues and private conversation frequently does more harm than good. They therefore prevented [[Congress]] from enacting any law that would curtail this freedom.
The origin of freedom of speech is Mark 9:39, when [[Jesus]] forbids stopping others who preach in his name. The colonial preachers took that to heart, and from them it became part of the [[American]] culture and the [[Bill of Rights]].
As originally intended, the freedom of speech never meant a perversion of conventions of polite society. You can't insult someone or disturb a religious service with impunity, for example. And of course deliberately creating a panic by falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre is no more a freedom of speech issue than [[incitement to riot]]. The principle refers to what you can say, not how or when you can say it.
As originally intended, the freedom of speech never meant a perversion of conventions of polite society. You can't insult someone or disturb a religious service with impunity, for example. And of course deliberately creating a panic by falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre is no more a freedom of speech issue than [[incitement to riot]]. The principle refers to what you can say, not how or when you can say it.