Blog Post 3; I Have Something to Say! The 8 Values of Free Expression

I Have Something to Say! 

The 8 Values of Free Expression

    

    Freedom of expression is one of the most valuable but most overlooked aspects of being an American citizen. Speaking to our government is not only a privilege but an obligation as citizens. In total, there are 8 values of free expression, and their priority and relativity change based on the issue at hand. Each value holds equal importance when it comes to our freedom of expression. Out of the 8 values, the 3 that I find notable today are; the participation of self-government, checks on government power, and the protection of dissent. These 3 values vary in their importance, action, and in my own personal resonation based on the current situation in our country. These values also tie into events that are happening in the world today and it is crucial to understand how we as citizens are protected in our speech and expression. With this new knowledge on the 8 values of expression, here is my analysis of the ones I find most relevant today and why. 

    1: Participation of Self-Government 

    The first value that I think is important based on its personal connection is the participation of self-government. I see this one as the most personal because this value to me is what makes being an American citizen so special. Without us, the people, we would not have the government we do today. One big issue today that affects this would be voting. As voting and political stances become more polarized, the turnout at the polls fluctuates drastically. This is one thing that I have noticed heavily in the past few elections. Without the voice of the people, candidates and their policies will not agree with what Americans need. It is vital to participate in this crucial part of our government and it is a privilege to be able to do so. It is not only our right but our responsibility to participate in voting to better our government. 

   The Center for Civic Education says that many American citizens do not participate in our government. They stress the importance of participating by examining three important points for deciding to participate; the purpose of our government, the importance of your rights, and your satisfaction with the government. It is also our responsibility to be sure the people we elect do the job the American people 'hire' them for. However, our responsibility is not done after that. We still have to watch their actions, which I will expand on more in the next value. 

    We must remember, our participation in government is in our own self-interest.

    2: Checks on Government Power 

    The second value that I prioritize today because of its overall importance is checking on government power. Again, it is not only a right but an obligation we have to speak and criticize the government when we feel they have taken advantage of their power. The biggest issue that comes to mind today that relates heavily to this is healthcare, specifically with COVID-19.

    Recently, there has been speculation of the government enforcing a vaccine mandate for all American citizens. However, this would be an abuse of power and both the press and American people have expressed strong opposition to this. Healthcare and one's individual health decision should not involve any form of government. With this value, we are able to speak to our government, address concerns, and reduce government involvement with issues like this. 

    The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School explains the checks and balance system within the government. Each branch of government is provided with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. Even though these checks come from within the government, we as American citizens play a role in the checks and balance system too. 

    As previously mentioned, it is not only our right to vote for elected officials but to watch them as well. If they are doing well, we as citizens are more likely to not watch them as closely. On the other hand, if they are doing poorly we have the right to watch them as closely as we want and even replace them if necessary. The amount of time we spend checking on our government depends on how well we think our elected officials are doing in dealing with certain issues. If we feel their work is inadequate we have the right to check on them and take further action if needed. This is our role in the checks and balance system.

    While COVID-19 is not the only major issue right now, it is the one I find most important. If you would like to learn about some of the other larger issues that involve American citizens checking on government power, The Heritage Foundation is a great resource. 

    3: Protect Dissent

    The last value I see as important because of how it resonates with me is the protection of dissent. We have a right to the freedom of speech and expression no matter the issue. In some recent political and social issues, we see the difference in protection between majority and minority groups. The majority groups are most often the groups in favor of what the government is doing and the minority group is against it. Majority groups are almost always given a bit more protection than those of minority groups. No matter how radical the opposing view may seem to be, we have a right to express that. The main current issue I observe in relation to this value, although broad, is protesting rights. Of course, in some protests, actions and speech are not protected but for the sake of this argument, I am speaking exclusively about peaceful protests where everything done is protected by the First Amendment. 

    Oftentimes, it feels as if there is a lack of respect for those protesting the opposing side than that of the government. However, looking back to the previous two values I have mentioned, we have a strongly protected right to disagree with the government and criticize what they do. If this value is ignored, we no longer have the government we were intended to have. The government must listen to any and all points of view, if not, our system is then broken.  

    The University of Chicago Law School says that the ability to publicly express beliefs and opinions is essential to democracy. Protests and public gatherings are a vital form of public expression and most of the time serve as the only option to reach reform. They continue by explaining how many states have failed to protect these public dissents. We can see, especially recently, how police and law enforcement are treating protests as a security threat and discouraging American citizens from this form of expression. These kinds of restrictions only make matters worse and interfere with our basic freedom to speak against our government. 

    Greenpeace even addresses this action from law enforcement as a severe issue. They say that the right to dissent and protest is constitutionally protected and has been a hallmark of our democracy since the founding of this nation. They stress how our First Amendment rights are at serious risk as legislatures aim to stifle and criminalize this right we have. It is happening right before our eyes. American citizens are being punished for speaking out for what they believe is right. We can't let this continue. 

    It is extremely important that as American citizens we recognize our rights to speak and protest against our government. These are the values our country was built on and it is crucial not to forget that. Despite there being 8 total values, I find that these 3 correspond most heavily to what is happening in our government today. We must do everything we can to protect our rights of free expression and keep the values this country was built on.