American flag Quote by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr
““In the Skokie case, it upheld the right of neo-Nazis to parade down the streets of an Illinois town inhabited by Holocaust survivors and their families. Wounded feelings were not deemed a persuasive reason for cancelling constitutional protection. As Justice Brenan wrote in Texas v. Johnson, a case in which a protestor burned an American flag: "If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable".””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Commentary on Skokie v. United States, 1977
The case affirmed that even hateful speech, like a neo‑Nazi parade, is protected unless the government can show a compelling reason, emphasizing that offense alone cannot justify suppression.
In simple terms: Free speech protects even offensive ideas; government must have strong justification to limit it.
Key Takeaway
Defend speech rights even for offensive ideas.
Themes
free speech
constitutional law
civil rights
hate speech
Mood
controversial
legal
political
Type
legal analysis
historical
When to use this quote
- public demonstrations
- legal challenges
- community healing
- media commentary
Key Concepts
first amendment
governmental authority
societal values
Questions to Reflect On
- Should there be limits on speech that incites trauma?
- How does protecting hateful speech affect social cohesion?
A Different Perspective
Balancing protection of vulnerable groups with absolute free speech is complex.
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