The Importance Of Freedom Of Expression In Democracy

Even though the United States has the first amendment, the right of freedom of speech, there is a limit to that right in which the Government then can step in. The Government has to have a motive to need to step in and block or not share certain information. One extent is if the information contains context that puts the Nation's National Security in jeopardy. The Government has not been telling us more about the war that we have been in, and has also given us false information to keep us thinking that we know what is happening in places like Iraq.

“I have a dream” countless people say this because they are allowed to. Freedom of expression is allowed and has allowed stuff to happen like slavery and racism has been taken away. It has also given us things like women’s rights. Freedom of expression is an essential part to run a successful democracy.

A poll was done in 1991, where it was found only 33% of adults knew what the point of having the bill of rights was for. Also, only 19% of adults know that the first amendment includes freedom of religion. Out of how many of those people realize that our soldiers fight for these freedoms so we can continue to have a successful country? People today should know why soldiers go out to war and what they fight for. The government should uphold no cruel and unusual punishment, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion to honor soldiers who gave their “last full measure of devotion” and to ensure “these dead shall not have died in vain”.

Free speech is a fundamental right to not only being American but being a human. Exchanging and defending principles, beliefs, and ideas have been existent since the beginning of mankind. We would not have made it this far if people did not have the freedom to speak what they wanted or needed to say. Philosophers and scientists, poets and writers, people such as Rousseau, Milton, Locke, Newton, Descartes, and numerous more might never have accomplished what they had or been recognized if not for the freedom of speech. Some of the most important examples of free speech that set in motion the foundation of America were the petitions from the colonists and finally the Declaration of Independence.

Freedom of speech is protected by the First Amendment that comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression. Freedom of speech is the foundation of an American democracy and without freedom of speech Americans would not have the right to vote. Freedom of speech means that an individual can debate or have an opinion with issues going on in America. Although freedom of speech in America gives Americans the right to have their voices heard and to have an opinion in American politics, it is still very limited. There is an abundant amount of Americans that are not able to exercise their first amendment right because of protesters who rally at speeches to stop an individual from exercising their right. There are constant issues over who has the right to do what, and who has the right to say what is right. The American government clearly believes that some people should have rights, but others, such as immigrants or students on campuses do not deserve to. Two articles that were featured in USATODAY, one article that was written by Shanta Driver, “Freedom of Speech Is a Diversion: Opposing View”, is addressing the right of illegal immigrants in America. The second article, “Campus Mobs Muzzle Free Speech: Our View”, written by The Editorial Board, argues the respect of freedom of speech on college campuses. Both articles appeal to the audience’s logic or logos appeal by stating their opinions on why freedom of speech is America’s greatest threat.

Legal membership is essential in a country in order for citizens to enjoy the rights, responsibilities and equity the country has to offer. Many nations across the world have some type of citizenship model which allows the individuals of a country to enact their political and legal rights destined to them from birth simply because they are human beings and citizens of such countries. Political and legal rights are protected and known as first generation negative rights; they include the rights fundamental to political and legal freedoms. They include political freedoms such as freedom of speech and democratic voting rights as well as legal rights involving habeas corpus and equality before the law. Together these rights guarantee open democratic participation and protect individuals from the abuse of excessive power of the state and other larger groups. Throughout Australian history the recognition of Indigenous rights have been construed to a large extent. Although Indigenous Australians still struggle in achieving equal political and legal rights, the recognition of such rights for the indigenous people have improved and grown substantially as this essay will prove to show the key event steps which have led and made for the implementation of equality in political and legal rights for indigenous Australians.

In large, freedom of speech is protected in the first amendment, and in several court cases it has been upheld that hate speech is also protected. So, a person can essentially say whatever they wish, if someone gets offended that is their problem, some argue this is one of the reasons why America is so great. Although, there are some exceptions to this amendment when public schools are involved. In this case it was a public university the students were attending, and the posters were on campus grounds, so these exceptions to the Amendment apply.

Everything that we consider to be freedom of expression such as, Freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, petition, and of association are all protected by our First Amendment. The Supreme Court has previously said that this freedom is "the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom." Without this, all other constitutional rights like the right to vote, would wither and die. Despite being the First of twenty-seven amendments in our constitutional hierarchy, the nation 's commitment to freedom of expression has been put to the test time and time again. These problems tend to arise during times when the United States is under some sort of stress from international conflict, or social protest happening here at home. People who have exercised their First Amendment rights during a time of social or economic conflict have been censored, fined, even placed in jail. Those with controversial political ideas have always borne the brunt of government repression. It was during the First World War that a person could be jailed just for giving out pamphlets opposing the war. Also, during the civil rights movement, people were beaten and jailed for picketing and protesting. People have also been trialed for discussing Darwin’s theory of evolution. It was out of those early cases that modern First Amendment law evolved. Many struggles, court cases and conflicts later, our country has become the most speech-protective country in the world.

College life is the time to have fun; you have few responsibilities, you are living on your own for the first time, and you are introduced to many new ideas. Generally, college is a time for students to generate their own beliefs and ideas on many topics. If they have only been shown a filtered version of ideas, they have not had a fair chance to be able to reach their own conclusions. Colleges filter what is discussed on campus to protect their students, but this hinders the quality of the students learning. Public college campuses should not safeguard student’s free speech by providing safe spaces, presenting trigger warnings, or controlling who speaks on campus.

I have waited for about 4 months for this time of year, Football season. Football is back but not without its debate over players standing for the pregame national anthem to the grievance the ethnic inequalities in America. Even though my appreciation for this country with its faults. America’s favorite past time sports football shouldn’t be a platform to promote the injustice of African Americans. I selected this topic for I believe in the first amendment, Freedom of speech. In the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents Congress from making any law respecting an establishment of religion, prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, or to petition for a governmental redress of grievances. (constitutioncenter.org, 2017)

Within today’s society, the freedom of speech has become an extremely controversial topic. There are various opinions on freedom of speech, however, philosopher John Stuart Mill argued that “[i]f all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person that he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind” (1859, p. 14). Mill sides with freedom of speech being vital for all of humanity. Having the ability to speak one’s thoughts and opinions is crucial not only for the individual, but for society as a whole. The right to speak one’s mind openly and freely about certain topics without the fear of high authoritative figures suppressing those opinions, while keeping in mind not to harm others is what freedom of speech is truly about. Freedom of speech is a basic human right to every individual, although the way you present and utilize your opinions on a specific topic has to be within limits; meaning if it harms individuals and/or society, the law can then intervene.

In the United States, the 1st amendment in the Constitution was created to protect the citizen’s rights to speak, practice religion, assemble, petition, and publish freely without government interference.However, throughout the years the freedom of speech since it was inputted into the constitution in the Bill of Right in intention to control over the concern of too much governmental control. Through the years in additional amendment was added, the fourteenth amendment. Which extends limitation to state government on law which may prohibit or abridge the people’s right to assemble peacefully. As a result causing an effect toward the 1st amendment that gave the right freely and contradict it actual liberty. With the Supreme court to take a stance on what now is freedom of speech is under court.

Under what circumstances, for example, is it right to curtail press freedom in order to protect the right to privacy, or vice versa? The same balance is being sought between the right of citizens to data privacy and government demands for access to personal information to fight crime, terrorism, and so on.

How can we define free speech? The understanding to free speech has changed over the years with the usage of technology. Who are the ones to decide what can or cannot be said to someone? For example, let’s look at the former LA Clippers owner, Donald Sterling and chef Paula Dean. Society has a limit to certain types of meaning for free speech, both made comments about African-Americans in their own privacy that became public news due to someone either privately recording them or reading into something that probably was taking out of context. And society took it as hateful and unethical, and the punishment for them speaking freely cost them millions behind their personal private conversation. Then we have African-American rappers using the “N” word freely all the time without any consequences. One would agree it’s okay for them because it’s coming from their own culture, but then you have others would say how? When it supposed to be a very degrading word to use.

The United States congress in 1791 would never believe what freedom of speech has become today. Today the definition of freedom of speech has evolved into something I believe the 1791 congress would be disappointed in. In 1791 freedom of speech was something to be prideful about. The idea behind free speech was everyone who lived in the U.S.A could speak there mind and have a voice for our nation. Sadly, today everyone has an opinion and if you voice it you will definitely get negative results.