Eight Values Of Free Expression

 Promote Tolerance

Freedom of speech, such a simple yet powerful freedom every citizen of the United States is gifted with at birth. We tend to take for granted the right to say, think, and believe whatever you choose to without having anyone else telling you that you can't, or so we thought. Today's society has continued to shift further and further from the First Amendment, putting a "social norm" on ideas and actions, and if you don't share the same viewpoint on these norms then you're simply uneducated and wrong. 

Who has the right to tell you what you can and can't agree with, isn't that the sole purpose of the first amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Why does it feel like day by day, society, media, and even the government try and push their ideologies on every citizen and criticize others with different beliefs.

One of the eight values of free expression I find very applicable to what is going on in today's society is promoting tolerance. Tolerance is a very important character trait to learn especially when discussing touchy subjects that others might not agree with. You will always come across people who might not share the same beliefs and viewpoints as you, that doesn't make their opinion any less valid as yours, it is just what they believe on that specific subject. What's wrong with society today is we've dwindled people down to categories, mainly revolving around their beliefs. If you're a Republican you're a racist, If you believe in Christ you hate gays, we've turned a common belief a group of people shares, and just because others don't share those same beliefs they automatically assume their bad people or their beliefs are invalid.

 Tolerance is the ability to see and hear another person's belief and not judge them for it, to accept that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and should be respected for it. No one should be harassed or looked down upon for their beliefs, what we as a society need to work on is accepting everyone for who they are. Respect other's opinions and not get easily upset when someone challenges your beliefs, you can't believe in something fully without seeing both sides. People's personal beliefs are what define us, they make us different and unique from one another.

We are blessed to live in a country that values the rights of its citizens, and being able to speak your mind and have your own beliefs. The more we strive towards promoting tolerance in America and the world, the less we will fight, and the sooner we will start seeing each other as individuals with a different outlook on life. Being able to have a civil conversation or debate with someone with different viewpoints as your own will allow you to assess the situation from another's point of view. Once we come to the realization that a society with tolerance is a society that prospers, we can then quickly learn to love one another and drive hate out of the world.

Sources:

Schultz, David. “Tolerance Theory.” Tolerance Theory, www.mtsu.edu/first-amendment/article/1024/tolerance-theory#:~:text=the%20Associated%20Press)-,One%20premise%20underlying%20First%20Amendment%20jurisprudence%20is%20the%20tolerance%20theory,Mill's%20On%20Liberty%20(1869).

“Who Supports Freedom of Speech? Tolerance vs. Prejudice.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/unique-everybody-else/202009/who-supports-freedom-speech-tolerance-vs-prejudice.