“Words are just words. » These words are often said to minimize the effect they may have on people. Were the words of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech just words? Wars were started by the simple act of saying words. Justice in the courts has been served by words. Words can leave an indelible mark on a person, either positively or negatively. Words that have a negative effect on someone can cause great harm to a person, but we do not criminalize words. This discussion highlights the importance of free speech and highlights the differences in our justice system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original EssayWhen you read an inspiring quote or listen to a remarkable speech, you may feel like it touches our souls. Most people would admit to having experienced this, but would also agree that “words are just words.” Offensive and insulting comments can harm a person's well-being. Bullying often takes the form of verbal abuse and there have been cases of serious bullying that resulted in victims of bullying committing suicide. Yet we downplay the value of words because they are just sounds that come out of our mouths. If you steal a bike or throw someone to the ground, it would be a criminal act. Ultimately, these acts have little effect on the victim's long-term well-being. I don't want to condone these acts, but compared to the serious verbal bullying that can lead to depression and suicide, these criminal acts pale in comparison. Some might suggest that we criminalize words like we do petty crime. Freedom of expression, no matter how harmful it may be, is essential to a democracy and banning certain words should not be sought. What can be criminalized is the systematic act of intimidation. Consistently harassing someone through various means of communication, whether face-to-face or online. In Massachusetts, a teenager sent her boyfriend text messages encouraging him to kill himself. The boyfriend ended up committing suicide and the Supreme Judicial Court later ruled that the grand jury indictment was legal. The grand jury had decided to indict him for involuntary manslaughter, based on transcripts of the text messages. It seems that the justice system is primarily based on physical crimes. As long as there is no physical attack or theft, it is outside the realm of justice. Words, on the other hand, are just harmless sound waves that do not portend the violence caused by physical crimes. Free speech is such an essential part of American democracy that it would be highly controversial to criminalize words. The simplest step to take is to decriminalize victimless crimes, especially those related to drugs. Words can cause serious damage to a person's psyche and will go largely unnoticed and unpunished, but thousands of people will go to prison for minor, victimless crimes. With an average of 50 new criminal laws created each year, there is no end in sight to incongruous penalties for victimless crimes. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized document from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay It's difficult to argue that words don't matter when there is evidence all around us suggesting otherwise. Mental anguish is just as harmful and often more serious..