Freedom of Expression

 Notable framers of the Constitution, such as Jefferson and Madison, played a vital role in encapsulating the core values of freedom and free expression. I learned that Jefferson famously said, "The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak," which speaks to his belief that a well-educated population makes for a good democracy. I believe this still holds true, and Americans should be well-informed about laws, be able to express their opinions, and have a say in the laws that pass.

With the concept of freedom of speech came the “marketplace of ideas,” which essentially is the idea that with many opinions and perspectives, there will be a better way of making decisions. This is opposed to a dictatorship where few individuals are making laws and sharing ideas, and the people get no say whatsoever. The marketplace of ideas is essentially a “free trade” of ideas and concepts, which greatly benefits society.

I often think about democracy and how it has shaped me personally. I ponder whether I would have a different perspective if I were born in a country where the government controlled the people and our ideas were not heard. The statement that America is the best country on earth is often controversial, and it comes from the concept of our great democracy.

Who we choose to represent us in office is also a very important factor in having an educated population and a good democracy. The speech theory of participation in self-government emphasizes the candidates' ability to communicate effectively with the people and therefore, inform them. This is an important thing to consider when voting. It is in the people's power to elect these representatives, and we have a duty to be informed about them and choose those who will best represent us.

Promoting tolerance is a valuable theory. The idea that we are stronger as a society if we have tolerance for extreme speech and hate speech is important because it gives us the opportunity to think on a deeper level, evaluate our beliefs, and stand up for what is right. If we never heard upsetting speech, we would not have the ability to recognize things we truly find hurtful or wrong.

During presidential debates, candidates will criticize each other and say extreme things. The first presidential debate between Trump and Biden is a prime example of that. Through watching these debates, we as Americans can see who we agree with more, and that is how we form our opinions. This forming of opinions makes us who we are, and we are fortunate to live in a country that allows us to have these opinions.

Freedom of expression comes in many different forms. Today, we have social media where we can express our political views, opinions, and religious beliefs, and we are able to peacefully protest. Social media is perhaps the most effective form of expression because we can get our opinions out to so many people across one platform in just minutes. Our social media profiles are also a reflection of who we are and how we choose to present ourselves.