Rhetoric of Dissent Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Rhetoric of Dissent - Article Example According to the report  the freedom of speech extends to offering protection to maintain parks or camps, as Reisman points out. This can be illustrated by 1st Amendment law precedence. In 1984, a U.S. Supreme Court in Washington ruled on Clark v. Community Creative Non-Violence case in which the Community Creative Non-Violence,   a protester movement petitioned for the right to sleep in National Mall overnight as a way of calling attention of the government to the homeless. The Supreme Court held that sleeping is a form of speech, which deserved constitutional protection. The view of the court was that like other forms of communication, expressions through sleeping in parks have potential social value.This discussion declares that public sphere simply refers to social arenas where individuals come together, exchange their different opinions regarding public affairs, discuss and form a specific public opinion. An arena can be a specific place or location such as town hall meeting , or   a communication infrastructure in which people send and receive information and opinions. Public sphere presupposes freedom of speech and of assembly, a free press, and the right to freely participate in political debate and decision making.   Thus, As Habermas, explains, public sphere is one of the most important aspects of good governance. A functioning and democratic public sphere gives citizens a chance to assert influence over political decisions, and government officials can be held accountable for their actions.... The Supreme Court held that sleeping is a form of speech, which deserved constitutional protection. The view of the court was that like other forms of communication, expressions through sleeping in parks have potential social value (Tedford & Herbeck, 2005). In another case in 2000, which was held in federal court in New York, the judge ruled that the tenants’ advocacy group had a right to sleep on sidewalks overnight to protest against proposed increases in rent for rent-stabilized apartments. The judge ruled that sleeping on sideways is a form of expression, and constitutes speech. Thus, OWS camps constitute speech and should be allowed on this basis. However, the right may be denied in cases where the camps are located in private locations (Ax, 2011). For instance, the federal court denied permission to a union that sought to stage a rally Lincoln Center Plaza in New York in 2000. The verdict described the space as having been historically used primarily for artistic purpos es, and thus could not be used by the public as it was limited property. OWS Zuccotti Park is located in a privately owned space, which must be open to public all times. The fact that the park is privately owned denies OWS absolute right over the space, and the public may be evicted if the owner decides to do so (Ax, 2011). Question 2 Public sphere Public sphere simply refers to social arenas where individuals come together, exchange their different opinions regarding public affairs, discuss and form a specific public opinion (The World Bank, n,d). An arena can be a specific place or location such as town hall meeting, or a communication infrastructure in which people send and receive information and opinions. Public sphere presupposes freedom of speech