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During World War I, antiwar activists Charles Schenck and Elizabeth Baer mailed 15,000 fliers to men of draft age, encouraging them to peacefully protest. The two were convicted
for interfering with U.S. military recruitment under the reasoning that they had violated the Espionage Act. Consequently, they appealed to the Supreme Court on the grounds that
their right to freedom of speech was violated. However, the conviction was upheld. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote, "We admit that, in many places and in ordinary times, the
defendants, in saying all that was said in the circular, would have been within their constitutional rights. But the character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is
done.... The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic.... The question in every case is whether the words
used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent."
Based on your reading, which of the following statements best explains why there should be exceptions to an individual's right to free speech, as in this example?
Freedom of speech should be limited if the thoughts and feelings that result from the speech are not respectful or honest.
An individual's right to freedom of speech should be curtailed if the person has no knowledge of the subject about which they are speaking.
The individual right to freedom of speech should be limited if there is evidence of endangerment of other societal issues, such as national security.
The right to free speech should be limited to those people who are deemed trustworthy and appropriate by society.
