What would the world be like if everyone had one opinion, one thought, one mind? Would society be as evolved as it is today? A world without freedom of speech would not be as extreme as these questions prompt, yet it would not be far from this intensity. The principle of free speech allows for people to possess differing thoughts and opinions, so as to diversity society. Freedom of speech is a luxury Americans have had for centuries, one that our Founding Fathers specifically ensured for their citizens. This principle welcomes the action of speaking freely in the press, in public domain, or simply with one’s peers. However, as society has progressed since the establishment of this accustomed rule in America, freedom of speech has almost become an idea to be wary of– as many people, especially in online spaces, have exploited this privilege by harassing, harming, and bullying others. Since the development of technology and communications, debates have ensued on limiting freedom of speech, and some provide the argument that the privilege should be limited in order to protect against offensive and obscene behavior. Yet regardless, freedom of speech allows citizens to openly voice their opinions in social and political environments, which overrides these concerns due to the fact that harassment demonstrates to its spectators what behaviors America needs to improve on as a society. Freedom of speech should not be limited, as it is vital to self expression as well as society’s function. 

The freedom of speech principle is one of the most important gateways for citizens’ voices to be heard in the government. Without freedom of speech, the American government could easily become totalitarian. Citizens would almost be forced to have one opinion, as they could not openly express another. If everyone was forced to agree with one way of thinking, then no political innovation would occur in the country. Without freedom of speech, political parties could not have formed in America during the early 1800s, which are a crucial part of modern politics. The entire idea of a democracy revolves around the principle of freedom of speech, as people vote for who they think is best fit to serve. If the government began to place restrictions on freedom of speech, who knows when those restrictions would end? If the ball got rolling, it would be difficult to stop; the government could essentially manipulate our thoughts, as well. Therefore, freedom of speech is key to successfully running a functioning democracy. 

The importance of freedom of speech also applies to personal expression. Owning the right to voice one’s own opinions out loud is freeing to one’s soul. By having this right, people are able to form bonds and relationships with other people whom they find topics in common with. Being able to speak one’s mind further allows people to have less fear in expressing themselves in other ways, such as through appearances or hobbies; it preserves their humanity. Freedom of speech also warrants the exchange of ideas between different types of people. A close minded person can learn a lot from someone who is different from them, whether that be through books, articles, online posts, or face-to-face. The only way this exchange of knowledge can happen is through the freedom to publicly convey one’s thoughts and opinions. Freedom of speech is extremely important to the expression of one’s personality and humanity.  

Even though obscene and hateful language can be cast into the world due to the principle of freedom of speech, these vile comments let the world know what society needs to work on to be more inclusive and compassionate as a whole. In the case that a person or group says hateful speech towards another group of people, society is often appalled or hurt, generally speaking. Yet when such incidents occur, society assesses what can be done to prevent these awful situations from repeating in the future. Often, the conclusion is that an increase in education on a topic is needed to reduce ignorance regarding it. For example, there are many magazines on shelves that are filled with awful comments regarding women’s bodies, their habits, and many other misogynistic remarks. While these articles are generally deemed unacceptable and degrading towards women as a whole, the ideas are still largely consumed, agreed with, and spread online. This spread of harmful ideology often triggers women around the world to continually debunk lies about women’s lives, and to eliminate stigmas surrounding their bodies. Feminists are constantly working to humanize women and fight for equality because of the ignorant people in the world who give them an incentive to keep educating. The spread of hate through freedom of speech gives the world a reason to keep fighting for social improvement.

The freedom of speech principle should remain absolute due to its vitality to self expression in the government and in society, as well as determining where society needs to improve. Without freedom of speech, modern politics, newspapers, social media platforms, and literature would not exist as what Americans know it as today. Democracy would cease to exist and no social diversity would be present. Inner diversity would also be absent within individual people. Freedom of speech gives people the ability to be who they are with no restrictions, thus allowing society to contain a rainbow of different personalities. This freedom of expression invites the mingling of ideas, which can produce an influx of knowledge that attracts innovation. In the case that freedom of speech is used as a harmful weapon against a person or group, the situation is used as a smoking gun for a learning opportunity for the rest of society. The more that these hurtful ideals infect America, the more an effort can be made to stop the spread of them. In a world where freedom of speech is void, no one can express their own personally sacred opinions, thoughts, or ideas; an imaginable society that barely evolves. With the privilege of freedom of speech, American citizens are able to live their lives to the fullest.