Analysis Of Night By Elie Wiesel

In a society filled with inequality and injustices, the determination to overcome cruelty emerges through the ability to communicate ideas. From organized protests to denying simple requests, every choice contributes to confronting injustice and bettering society. However, freedom of speech can also promote violent beliefs and discrimination. The characters in “Night” by Elie Wiesel and “Antigone” by Dudley Fitz and Robert Fitzgerald, share many similarities with real-world activists, where all characters portray a strong-willed mindset to challenge unfair authority.

Freedom of speech provides the opportunity for individuals to challenge authority in order to stand up for what they believe in. When Creon subjects Antigone’s oldest brother

During World War I, Hitler’s ability to command his ideas led many, “refugees to be considered as victims of political persecution rather than race or religion” (Aish 1). The holocaust depicts the horrors that can occur if negative ideas are conveyed. Jewish citizens were forced to endure disturbing practices and inhumane treatment as a result of Adolf Hitler’s biased intentions. Elie Wiesel, a prisoner in the German concentration camps had his, “God, soul, and dreams turned into ashes” (Wiesel 221). As a result of one dictator’s negative viewpoint, Jewish people lived through a nightmare. The privilege of speech was taken advantage of, which drastically created a negative series of events. Another example of the utilization of speech in a negative way is when CNN allowed, “Trump [to] thwart real-time fact checking… [which allowed] him to present a dishonest rehashing of his record” (Barr 4). Donald Trump’s live interview on CNN provided him the opportunity to mock and joke around on serious matters. His degradation of specific matters influenced many of his supporters to also follow in his methods. As a leader with numerous supporters, his beliefs and ideas can largely impact his follower base. Individuals have the potential to construct negative changes and create an unequal society with unjustifiable

Currently, the United State’s criterion on Speech includes, “obscenity, fraud, child pornography, harassment, incitement to illegal conduct and imminent lawless action, true threats, and commercial speech such as advertising, copyright or patent rights” (Gaudefroy 3). However, speech involving discriminatory words or racial intentions are protected by the law. To avoid instances that degrade the minority group, stricter rules need to be enforced on the delicate topic. Restrictions on hate speech should include usage of “misogynistic, homophobic, racist, and conspiracy-laden language” (Gaudefroy 3). Efforts to restrict these types of beliefs would create a more safe and equal society for all individuals. While contrasting opinions should be allowed, there has to be a line that can determine the differences between expressing opinions or influencing negative thoughts on others. However, once the specifications have been put on the expression of ideas, a citizen should still be able to find their freedom of speech as “the most cherished founding principle of the nation’s identity” (Gaudefroy 1). Rules should not restrict a group's efforts to defy unjustifiable laws. Our freedom of speech has to continue to be an important resource that is available to all citizens. Failure to comply with the citizen’s ideas would create