Eight Values of Free Expression
The Eight Key Values of Free Expression are very important in today's society. They are kept in our government's reign to maintain freedom of expression to say and do as we please. Although there are some rules to saying what we want and those rules are stated below:
1. Market Place of Ideas
2. Participation in Self-Government
3. Stable Change
4. Individual Self-Fulfillment
5. Check on Governmental Power
6. Promote Tolerance
7. Promote Innovation
8. Protect Dissent
All eight of these rules are important, but the one that resonates with me the most is number 1, Market Place of Ideas. This rule is known as the discovery of truth. John Milton was the first person to suggest this idea "when truth and falsehood are allowed to freely grapple, the truth will win out. And the grappling makes the truth even stronger" (Dean Smith). I agree with this rule because when allowing the people to spread their ideas freely even if the ideas are awful, it still allows the people to be heard. I also believe that telling the truth is very important because no matter what you do, the truth will always come out one way or another.
Another value that I think is important to me is number 5, Check on Governmental Power. I have studied the way the government works throughout the years from 8th grade till around the end of high school, and now as a junior for this class. Reading how the government works have been very technical, there is a certain balance to their madness. Maintaining the three branches and making sure one doesn't have more power over the other is key to our system. What makes this rule even more special to me is that us as people also play a hand in the government and how it rules. "We, along with the press, are part of the check-and-balance system to restrains government power and abuse of power" (Dean Smith).
The final rule ill mention out of the eight is number 7, Promote Innovation. "A community in which free speech is valued and protected is likely to be a more energized, creative, interesting society as its citizens actively fulfill themselves in many diverse and interesting ways" (Dean Smith). This exact rule is in action today. In America, there is a lot of civil unrest about the Black Lives Matter movement and the amount of protesting going on. The 7th rule is allowing them to use their free speech freely without fear of being prosecuted for what they say.
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