ABSTRACT
Freedom of expression is a good unto itself, requiring no purpose, no legitimating goal. In 1982, the board of directors stated that "the purpose of free speech, particularly speech expressing a minority view, is to help in the formation of a wise decision by a majority. Most constitutional scholars, and most Supreme Court decisions, have wrestled with the delicate issues involved when civil liberties conflict with national security. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) saw the matter as a violation of free speech. The ACLU constantly portrayed the Meese Commission unfavorably to its predecessor. In 1962, the ACLU became officially doctrinaire, endorsing the idea that obscenity should be fully protected by the first amendment. The new policies indicate, balancing national security interests with a respect for civil liberties is increasingly not the goal of the ACLU. In 1982, the ACLU lost in a unanimous decision in the Supreme Court to legalize the sale and distribution of child pornography.
