Eight Values of Free Expression

The beauty of the United States lies in our unique ability to express our opinions for better or worse, true and untrue. This liberty is created out of the first amendment. The first amendment states that, "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Within this amendment, the eight values of freedom of expression are validated as "safe" ways for the people of the United States to convey their feelings on any issue that is brought to the forefront of American society. 

In contrast, North Korean society silences those who wish to speak out against their government, as they must always bit their tongue. If they were to express their thoughts or ideas about the society they reside in, it could cost them their life. Societies like that of North Korean and China prevent their residents from expressing freedom of speech, their governments are dictatorial and communist, meaning the power is held within the highest branches of their government and kept from the people. When the United States was established, our democracy was intended to serve the opposite effect, giving equal power to all branches of government and relinquishing freedoms, like that of freedom of speech, to the people. Ensuring the free speech of the people of the newly formed United States of America was essential for our founding fathers because they believed that their citizens ability to express themselves was indispensable to the free flowing of ideas and the spread of political truths. The idea of freedom is what our nation was founded upon, if we were to lose our first amendment right of freedom of speech and therefore the eight values of free expression, it would alleviate the American spirt that our country holds dear and prevent individual and national growth that comes by way of this liberty. 

Whereas all eight freedoms of expression are in use today, the fourth, individual self-fulfillment seems to be of a heightened emphasis in today's society. Over the past two hundred years, the interpretations of our freedoms have been altered with the times. This has allowed for a rotation of sorts to occur, over the last several decades the eight freedoms continue to rotate in popularity. I see the freedom of individual self-fulfillment at an all time high as we transition into a society that is much more in tune with the individual needs of our people. This is coupled with newfound acceptance of previously taboo societal roles and social norms. This emphasis on accepting all individuals as they are leaves room for all citizens to discover what they love, and how they wish to live their life. I believe this freedom has gained popularity in the most recent decade as Americans are turning less and less to religious institutions where they once looked for guidance. As the separation of religious life becomes even more prevalent, the acceptance of people as they are, has become even more popular. In an evolving society that believes in free flowing of ideas as a means to generate innovation, I believe this freedom is essential because it allows all individuals to know they are accepted and have the ability to discover and share their lifestyle as it may help others around them. This forward-thinking approach has the power to cultivate a more harmonious society, the trouble may become when all individuals do not support this type of personal and societal advancement. 

In the current political landscape, there is an emphasis on degrading and demoralizing comments being passed between political opponents. Their constant quarrel is often very difficult to hear as opponents tear each other apart, going far beyond political purview, and look to cause psychological harm to each other. While it might be uncomfortable to hear, the hate speech they project is protected under the freedom to promote tolerance. This freedom recognizes the fundamental rights of others to speak how they desire and our duty as US citizens to allow them to speak their mind as it allows the rest of society to recognize why a select line can be seen as hateful or personally upsetting. The freedom believes that in a society where the people are taught to be tolerant, they are classified as a better society.

In the current political situation, the most common individual that is classified as inciting hateful speech is republican presidential frontrunner, Donald Trump. Mr. Trumps speech is often seen as vilification by many opponents on both sides of the aisle. Under Trumps freedom of speech, he has no constitutional obligation to change his tone, nor do the people have a constitutional right to ask him to stop. Within the promotion of tolerance, it would be seen that our society is benefiting from his actions as we are learning how to be tolerant with his personally upsetting diction, and we are learning why this type of behavior is inappropriate for the national stage.