The exceptionalism of the United States in the protections it offers to freedom of expression does not mean that other democratic nations do not respect, honor, and generally seek to protect it; it does mean that American law does so more often, more intensely, and more controversially than is true elsewhere.
-- Floyd Abrams (Introduction paragraph 3)

Importance: This demonstrates the unique nature of the U.S. First Amendment, even among democracies.

There is no doubt that a price is paid, sometimes a serious one, for doing so; the American approach is not oblivious to that price but insists (as other countries do not) that the dangers of permitting the government to decide what may and may not be said, far more often than not, outweigh any benefits that may result from suppressing or punishing offensive speech.
-- Floyd Abrams (Introduction paragraph 3)

Importance: This summarizes the author's view that, though there are drawbacks to a broadly interpreted First Amendment, they are outweighed by...