The Eight Values of Free Expression (REDONE BLOG)

 The Eight Values of Free Expressions, without these values, we as American citizens wouldn't be able to do a lot of things we take for granted.  They are a part of why America is the way it is today. So here they are!

Marketplace of Ideas 

I feel this is an idea for a more open community; this concept seems to draw its attention to sharing individuals' opinions, hence creating a more open community. The concept of marketplace ideas allows people to make their own decisions based on what they want because the key in this concept is to put everything out there. In Milton John's book, Areopagitica, He wrote this in protest of censorship because he believes it is wrong; which it most definitely is! It is not up to the people who censor it's up to the people to hear what it is and decide for themselves.

Participation in Self Government 

With participation in self-government, it's almost a way of them looking at speech as a way to keep an eye out for what government candidates say. Not just in my opinion but should be the opinion of all, these candidates should have the ability to express their opinion of any topic; so that the people in America can really know what they're voting for. Unfortunately with all the biased news sources that the majority of our population go to, such as any social media, there isn't a straight pass to this. This affects votes because I feel as a lot of people hear what the press projects in favor of who they want to win the elections; not what the people should hear, which would be all the information, but what the press thinks they should hear.

  

Stable Change 

For a stable change, shadow banding comes to mind; shadow banding is a form of censorship on Instagram that's not completely deleting what the company is censoring. It's a way of limiting the number of viewers that see a person's post if it expresses an opinion that's not ideal to the people in charge. This is a way of censorship without seeming too harsh or whatever they want to call it; but let's be real, that would honestly piss me off just as much. In my opinion, it's wrong to mangle with anyone's post on their opinion or if they're simply just expressing the truth. This “Stable Change” is a hope that people get out their emotions, such as anger, out with their words instead of some violent act, but I don't see the logic of censoring someone's opinion of a controversial issue that they are mad about.

Even if the options are not wrong? Wouldn't that just cause more emotions of anger? Wouldn't that maybe make the person being censored think “well if I can't get my opinion out online peacefully? I'll just do something publicly to show the people what they need to know”? I feel as if that would lead to maybe an unsafe protest or maybe even a violent gesture to get people to notice. I am not saying everyone who gets censored would do something as such, but there is a great possibility if someone was to get frustrated enough. 

Individual Self Fulfillment

Especially in the United States, self-fulfillment is a big expression we have the ability to use on a daily basis. We have the opportunity to be able to pick what we want throughout the day such as if I want to wear makeup I can, I can choose what I want to wear, I can do what I want with my hair, or simply just choose the food I want to eat that day. As we live in America we take these normal things for granted and do not even think about how that might be in other countries. Such as Afghanistan, women aren't even allowed to wear what they want or do pretty much anything without the permission of whoever they belong to, father, husband, etc. 

 

Check on Governmental Powers

Abuse of power in the government is nothing new, unfortunately. We see it from time to time, and I feel that the checks on governmental power are great. Doing this allows the citizens to initiate transparency between the people and the government to help avoid the bad part of the government that abuses their power. Although it depends on how you look at it, on one hand, we should know what the government is doing, but on the other hand, the information of the United States may get out to other countries in threat of us and it might end up not being the safest. Of course, we want to know what's going on but if we knew everything there's a good chance nations would know. This could result in our enemies using our information against us.

Promote Tolerance 

The First Amendment says it protects freedom of speech, but to what extent? In today's day of age, there are so many platforms to express your opinion on all different major topics, but we often find these media censoring certain opinions. They say it’s to help not promote violence to the people who don't agree, but how does an opinion prominent violence? I get censorship to an extent. But taking down someone's post because you think it's going to promote someone to commit a violent act is just not logical to me. If it’s promoting hate speech, then I get it, take it down, But I'm talking more, let's say about this issue that really gets under people's skin, political views on Presidential elections. I got some of my news about what was going on from this Instagram account I followed CamHigby; this account never posted anything that made me uncomfortable, NEVER  posted anything that I was like “oh my god I want to commit a violent act”. Even with the stuff I didn't agree with, I simply just read it, shook my head, and moved on, but not too long ago I saw that I couldn't find this account. It appeared that this account was taken down for “promoting violence” and “hate speech” just because certain people didn't like what the account was posted. Now I get it if it's wrong, by all means, take it down, but if they're just posting about what's going on; now come on that pretty stupid. 

Protecting Dissent

Protecting dissent is a way for everyone to be heard, specifically minorities. Since the first amendment protects the view of minorities. Everyone has their own opinion, no matter who you are or where you came from, you're going to have your opinion most of the time. It's Inevitable for everyone to have the same view. So with the protection of the dissent, it gives us the right to criticize our government, it's actually our “patriotic duty to criticize our government”. If the government does something you don't like and voice your opinion on it, it's a good thing. By doing this you are showing that you care about your country and what is going on in it. Just like if our president was making decisions, it would be our duty to criticize him.