Values of Free Expression

 

                                                                

The eight values of free expression can be grouped into two categories. The first is primarily concerned with how individuals interact with our government. Free speech allows voters to be informed (by learning facts in a “marketplace of ideas”) and to use this information to hold the government in check using the power of their votes (a “check on governmental power”). It also protects their right to disagree with the government. The second category of free expression concerns an individual’s ability to tell the world who they are, what they believe, find others like them, and how to tolerate those who are different. People who are allowed to express their opinions are less likely to be violent or act out in secret. While it might seem like a bad idea to protect hate speech, we can learn why certain beliefs are hateful and what is acceptable by allowing individuals to express themselves.

A value I personally connected with was that of individual self-fulfillment.  When people have the right to express themselves, they can find others who share their interests or beliefs.  For example, during the month of June, Americans celebrate Pride Month. There have been Pride Parades, festivals, and concerts across the country that celebrate the members of the LGBTQ+ community.  These events, which are becoming increasingly family friendly, foster a sense of dignity and belonging.  Social media is another way to promote Pride Month’s messages.  By reading and sharing posts and stories on Instagram, retweeting articles, and liking and viewing TikTok videos, members of the LGBTQ+ community can find others that share their identity as well as allies that support them, promoting acceptance.  The value of self-fulfillment is  also evident in the advocacy of Best Buddies, an organization that promotes inclusion of those with disabilities.  As a high school student, I participated in the Best Buddies Friendship Walk and other events that brought a diverse group of students together to celebrate friendship and unity.

I also connected with the value of protecting dissent.  After the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, both sides of the gun control debate have expressed their views.  Groups such as Moms Demand Action believe in stricter gun laws, and inspired marches such as the March for Our Lives Rally on the National Mall in Washington, DC and in hundreds of other cities.  Other groups, like the NRA, believe gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment.  Our government has yet to act, but citizens have a right to share their views in hopes of influencing the legislation they put forward.  They can also exercise their rights at the ballot box (demonstrating the value of the check on governmental power) and vote accordingly.  

The value of stable change, or a “safety valve,” is important to both self-fulfillment and dissent.  When citizens are allowed to voice their opinions, rather than keeping them bottled up, they are less likely to become violent because they feel they are being heard.  By expressing their views, they can also be monitored closely by law enforcement, preventing future tragedies.  When citizens can gather together and express themselves in a peaceful way, everyone benefits.