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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 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 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.

The American concept of verbal freedom contrasted sharply with that of England and other monarchies of the time, where to make a disloyal public statement was punished as [[treason]]. [[Communist]] countries in modern times, likewise, define treason or [[sedition]] as any criticism of government policy.

The American concept of verbal freedom contrasted sharply with that of England and other monarchies of the time, where to make a disloyal public statement was punished as [[treason]]. [[Communist]] countries in modern times, likewise, define as treason or [[sedition]] any criticism of government policy. Not so in America.

In 1734, John Peter Zenger, the owner of the New York Weekly Journal, published a series of articles critical of the royal governor of New York. Zenger was charged with criminal libel. At trial, the defense showed that the criticisms of the governor were true, and argued that no one should be punished for truthful criticism of public officials. The jury found Zenger “not guilty.” Ever since, the case has stood as an early American assertion that freedom of press is, and ought to be, a principle of law. [http://usinfo.state.gov/dd/democracy_dialogues/freedom_speech/free_speech_essay.html]

In 1734, John Peter Zenger, the owner of the New York Weekly Journal, published a series of articles critical of the royal governor of New York. Zenger was charged with criminal libel. At trial, the defense showed that the criticisms of the governor were true, and argued that no one should be punished for truthful criticism of public officials. The jury found Zenger “not guilty.” Ever since, the case has stood as an early American assertion that freedom of speech is, and ought to be, a principle of law. [http://usinfo.state.gov/dd/democracy_dialogues/freedom_speech/free_speech_essay.html]

==External links==

==External links==