POPc Participant Malak’s Post:
Free Speech allows one to express their inner most thoughts and feelings, and to question one’s right to do so is absurd. Humans are equipped with a mind that thinks, that imagines and expands within time, but only when interaction with that “thing” they are think about is practical. When interaction with people, ideologies, cultures, works of art, societal and governmental institutions is not free nor encourage human intelligence and society progression is unlikely to come to fruition.
Coerced Silence sets one back in time as they can no longer think beyond that thing they are imagining. It is as if someone has paused all of time, an done is forced to live in the same moment over and over again. This is especially true for speeches labeled as “hate”. If something is hated, it is disputed and rejected at the forefront. But hate only prevails where understanding and where meeting of the minds is lacking.
From a modern religious perspective, freedom to speak one’s mind is an innate right that all have, not only because one has the capabilities to do so, but because it is necessary for peace and harmony amongst a world composed of many tribes and nations. Acquiring knowledge is ordained by G-d as an obligation to all of mankind. Free speech is essential to the acquisition of knowledge as it permits the free exchange of ideas and objections to existing ones.
When speech is censored, fear is consequently perpetuated; and as a result progression is in doubt for the individual and the society in which they reside or even identify with. Fear is not a mere phenomena one associates with a feeling Fear is more powerful than an army of a million soldiers, as it can dictate the actions of people based off illusions that have been created as a result of the sacrificed. Just think about children’s stories and how fear is used as a mechanism to constrain their actions e.g., Robin Hood and the big bad wolf is a perfect example of how fear is instilled within the child to refrain them from meeting strangers.
Now imagine censorship on a society imposed by the government. Everyone know’s there will be consequences to breaking rules and codes of law and how insane does it sound to be punished for the articulation of the thoughts and ideas one possesses. Yes, some speeches can hurt, and even lead to violence but despite this, the consequences for censoring them is far worse. Take a look at Yemen, for example. (Where I’m from) Fear has been ingrained into the hearts of the citizen that even when no law exists stating that one should not speak up against the corruption of the government, they still fear doing so. One instance of censorship on speech is all it takes to spark a chain of fear amongst people and by all means, it is better to accept others, and tolerate each other’s differences because imagine how boring of a world it would be if everyone was alike.