If Flipping the Bird a First Amendment Right?

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A First Amendment Right? Most people have the same view on a social occurrence, which is identified as the digitus impudicus (impudent finger) in Ancient Roman writings and reference is made to using the finger in ancient Greek comedy to insult another person. The widespread usage of the finger in many cultures is likely due to the geographical influence of the Roman Empire and Greco-Roman civilization. They feel flipping someone off is a perfect way to show your anger and frustration to someone that has cut you off, insulted you, or to someone you just do not like. It can be called giving the bird, the big one, or between the lines. Just like mooning or cursing this is a societal taboo and should be used with caution, especially around the police. After many recent occurrences, the subject arose, is flipping off the police or anyone for that matter considered a first amendment right, or not? There are many mixed views on if it is in fact considered a first amendment right or not. In the past it has been found to not be covered by the first amendment because it is considered “unprotected”. There are four forms of speech that fall outside the protection of the first amendment, and therefore are outside the realm of absolute protection, “libel and slander, obscenity and pornography, fighting words, and commercial speech” (Lowi, 84). This is shown perfectly with the free speech principle. It has two main purposes that the Supreme Court established, “first, that free speech serves special and significant constitutional purposes and, second, that the First Amendment should not protect all speech but only speech of a certain quality” (Hall). Justice Frank Murphy says that they are all unprotected expressions because, “such utterances are no essential part of any exposition of ideas, and are of such slight social value as a step to truth that any benefit that may be
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