Freedom of Expression - Key Blog Post #3

The Importance of Valuing our First Amendment Rights

The emergence and evolution of the First Amendment was a lengthy process that the Continental Congress took with great responsibility to shape the United States of America. Our country was built on principles that still serve as the foundation of our government today. At the forefront of the drafting, James Madison established principles that shaped eight other theories that emerged later in our history. 

Freedom of Expression is what differentiates the United States from other countries. This is what our founders wanted – separation from the church, freedom from the tyranny of monarchies, and freedom to think and act on their own accord.   

The Eight Values of Free Expression are theories established by highly educated scholars that highlight the importance of free speech in a democratic society. The most important values for the function of a free democratic society are Participation in Self-Government and Checks on Governmental Power. Participation in Self-Government establishes that citizens have the right to elect candidates they want to represent them and their political party. Without this principle, democracy simply could not exist. Checks on Governmental Power is another theory that is highly practiced in our country. Without checks and balances between the legislative, judicial, and executive branch, each level would have free range to destroy what our founders took so long to institute. 

For me personally, Individual Self-Fulfillment (aka Self-Actualization), theorized by C. Edwin Baker, resonates with me more than any of the other eight. The ability to express oneself freely is integral to individual growth and self-identity. This value is deeply personal because it relates to my sense of self and the freedom to pursue my own path without undue restriction. I feel deeply grateful for this freedom when women and children in other countries are told what they will be and who they will be from the minute they learn to walk. It is easy to take these seemingly insignificant rights for granted, however it is vital that we celebrate what Madison built so many years ago.  

Our country today is quite different than the 13 Colonies were in 1789. Today, we see examples of United Sates citizens exercising their rights established in the First Amendment. As the Presidential Election approaches our country, just a mere seven days away, many high-tension situations have arisen. Although these situations are uncomfortable and sometimes hair-raising, the First Amendment protects speech that opposing sides might find hateful through the Promote Tolerance theory. The Promote Tolerance theory, theorized by Lee Bollinger, states that by promoting tolerance of conflicting ideas, our country and our citizens learn valuable lessons including how to decide the difference between what is hateful and what is an opinion that I don’t like. We often see this on social media. Because instant communication is so accessible, hate speech lies in the hands of anyone who owns a smartphone.  

The United States is built on principles that were established at the birth of our nation. The First Amendment protects our right to free expression and the ability to think freely. We see each of the Eight Values of Free Expression in practice in our world today and it is crucial that we celebrate these rights and value the gifts of freedom they give us each day when we roll out of bed in the morning. 

Sources : Tolerance Theory

Examples in Our Country Today

Freedom of Expression