Life without Freedom Of Speech😶

    Without freedom of speech, we can be tossed and turned around, repressed from being ourselves. It's important that people speak up and share what they feel, and sometimes the thought of someone opposing one's view makes people want to suppress the other-that can cause many problems.

    Many people across the world don't enjoy the same freedom of speech and expression as people in the US. They are punished for speaking up and are stripped from the right to express their ideas and thoughts, taking away one's personality as well. Taking away someone's right to express themselves, is like taking away someone's biggest greatness...because without the ability to speak you are silent, and silence is dangerous. The saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is NOT TRUE The power of words is undeniably strong, and not just words, but also symbols, actions, music, and even art can portray so much

    Freedom of Speech is the principle that protects an individual’s right to say their opinion and ideas without fear, censorship, and legal sanction from the government.

    Freedom of speech is the foundation of a good democracy and without it, a simple right to us, like the right to vote...would go away. Because of the First Amendment, people in the US have more freedom of expression than many other places...people can protest government policies, comment in current news stories, and even criticize officials and the government. Many countries though, are very suppressing and don't provide basic human rights to their citizens.

An illustration from A Kids' Guide to America's Bill of Rights

“Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people’s idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage”~Winston Churchill

Without freedom of speech, there would be no dissent. Leaders of countries could completely become dictators and enforce any brutal policy, or suppression.

 

Imagine a life controlled by fear, a life built by propaganda and always held in. That’s a glimpse of life WITHOUT freedom of speech/expression. 

In the book A Kids' Guide to America's Bill of Rights, The first amendment part 2, page 57, puts a really good statement out there, “Depriving others of their freedom to express ideas we hate opens a door to others’ depriving us of freedom to express the ideas we love”

I think it’s important to acknowledge both sides of the argument, and encourage freedom of speech, thought, and expression.

    We dove into a deep topic today, about the First Amendment and what life would be like without it.

Let me know your thoughts and, stay tuned for more!

~Arya