Anthony Lewis' FREEDOM FOR THE THOUGHT THAT WE HATE in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

'Freedom For the Thought That We Hate' by Anthony Lewis
How First Amendment survives

Sunday, May 18, 2008
By Len Barcousky, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Before The New York Times vs. Sullivan, came Bridges vs. California.

Separated by 23 years, both cases ended with landmark decisions that broke with English common-law precedents.

Both cases broadened protections for speakers and writers and both are engagingly summarized here by Anthony Lewis.

While the First Amendment also protects freedom of religion, the right to assemble and the right petition the government for grievances, Lewis focuses on the 14 words that safeguard public discourse:

"Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech; or of the press ..."

Despite what seems like straightforward language, the battle for now commonly accepted speech and press freedoms has continued for more than two centuries.

Authors of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as its first 10 amendments are called, broke with British tradition by ending the licensing of printers and pre-publication censorship of books and periodicals.

Lewis points out, however, that draconian punishments for criticism of public officials or publication of salacious literature continued to follow British precedents.

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