SPEECH THEORIES

 "4. Individual Self-Fulfillment ( aka Self-Actualization) — see C. Edwin Baker, Human Liberty and Freedom of Speech

     Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identity — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency and autonomy."

 What a beautiful sentiment. Who are we if not ourselves? We can have likes and dislikes and share our opinions. We can dye our hair, make signs of protest, get ear piercings, and express ourselves. The most important thing to me in life is that I have autonomy. I want and need choice. I want to be able to choose where I will go to school, who I will marry, what job I will have, and more. I never want to be limited to a box, and the only way to ensure this is to fulfill your identity. Identity is so much greater than how we look and the music we listen to. Identity is created from the intrinsic values and morals that we hold. Identity is something that we are permitted to cultivate and explore in our country. In so many other places in the world identity that is different from the norm is shunned. In some countries people cannot dress how they would like, love who they love, and practice the jobs they want to practice. They are thusly shoved into boxes that disrespect and devalue their souls. It disrespects their wants, needs, and aspirations. Autonomy, choice, freedom...they all boil down to the same goals. These are goals that have started wars, sent millions of people to fight for, caused protest after protest. These values are not optional in our country. They are the most important thing we have. I treasure the right to be myself. 

 Protect Dissent — see Steve Shiffrin, Dissent, Injustice and the Meanings of America

     Our system is not supposed to be one of mob rule. The First Amendment protects minority views, no matter how unpopular. You have a strongly protected right to disagree with the government — and everyone else. In fact, it is your patriotic duty to criticize the government.

 I love this rule. I want to be a lawyer one day, and that entire job is based on dissent. I value that our government does not fall under mob rule. I value that people can protest. I value that people can make signs and posters, or social media posts. I value that our country forces the people to speak. Americans are not meant to sit quietly. We are meant to speak up. We are meant to quash injustice, we are meant to secure a government that voices fairness for all. We are meant to disagree. We are meant to challenge each other. We are meant to fight.

How do these sentiments affect us today?

Our founding fathers fought to secure free expression for us all. The supreme court viewed cases and ordered them to further secure this gift. In the news today people are protesting, people are sharing their opinions on social media, and people are fighting. These are good things. They show that we, as a country, have separate identities. We can dissent. 

I want to particularly look at social media, identity, and dissent.

Social media has given us the ability to connect with people who are thousands of miles away. We can join online communities, make new friends, and express ourselves. Social media gives us the ability to facilitate our identity. What do we post? Who do we follow? What is our bio? All of these things tie into the identity that we have been granted to create. Further, some websites are essentially built for dissent and debate like Twitter. You can chat with a stranger, thousands of miles away, on several issues. You are allowed to disagree. Social media has solidified our ability to share our identity and our criticisms with others. Without social media, it would be nearly impossible to talk politics with someone several thousand miles away on a random Wednesday afternoon. Social media, despite all of its pitfalls, is a gift. It allows us to continue to explore the gifts our country has given us.

Not only has social media helped our identities, it has helped us find community. In this video, Meeting My Internet Best Friend, Emily Lau meets her "internet best friend" of years. She is able to connect with someone from a different part of the world. 

Social media has helped to give platforms to many issues. A show I love to watch is called Middle Ground. It is comprised of 10-12 people debating in a seated format about an issue that they care about. The topics range from religion to abortion. They keep in touch with current issues like their video Should Everyone Get the Covid Vaccine?. This online platform for debating would not be possible without freedom of expression.

Finally, and most importantly, we can criticize the government. 

Childish Gambino is a famous rapper who criticized our government regarding the shootings of black Americans. He did it through his music and in a very polarizing music video titled This is America.

We can all be who we want and disagree with what we want because of our freedom of expression. It is a gift meant to be treasured.