Free Speech in America

By Hadicha Abduvalieva ha154@uakron.edu

At the University of Akron as well as on other campuses, students have witnessed many times individuals expressing their right to free speech.

Though there has been many times when controversial topics have been brought up, these students are acting on their 1st amendment rights. It is written in the constitution that as long as speakers don't create a hostile environment or instigate harmful or illicit actions, the government cannot interfere. Free speech is an important aspect of society. It can educate others about various opinions, open people to different perspectives, or create civil discourse.

The concept of free speech dates back centuries when the ancient Greeks used the word "parrhesia" meaning to speak candidly or with honesty, now modernly interpreted as “free speech”. The one of the first appearances of this type of speech was in Greek literature by the playwright Euripides. Among his any tragedies where he includes the term “parrhesia”, one play where the word has a significant role is Ion because Ion addresses the question of who is to speak the truth. So who can speak the truth?

America is considered a country where the right to speak is generally protected with the condition that it does not incite lawless action. But that wasn’t always the case. For example, back during the period of McCarthyism in the 1950s, senator Joseph McCarthy created a hostile environment were people were interrogated and investigated under the efforts to expose them of communist ideals. Left-wing individuals were the most commonly persecuted and arrested. This period kept people from being able to express their beliefs in fear of punishment. Although since then we have progressed, restrictions and fear around free speech is not out of the question.

In many countries, there is a significant amount of surveillance and censorship over speech. A good example is of North Korea. In this totalitarian state, the power of the government is enforced using fear of arrest, forced labor, or prosecution. Offending the Kim family or the state in any way could get a citizen severely punished or in some cases, dead. Therefore, citizens of the North Korean Regime cannot freely speak about their beliefs if they contradict that of the state. All media is controlled and monitored strictly by the government so its difficult to access outside media that may go against the government policy. Similarly, many other countries heavily censor their media and things that people say or do. It’s common to find that many apps are banned on services. For example, many western apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit are blocked in China.

Although sometimes free speech may be used in harmful ways, it can also serve to educate others on world issues like oppression and racism. Recently, there has been many protests around university campuses spreading awareness and showing support to the people under siege in Palestine. With increased awareness, creating solutions to problems will become easier and faster. Free speech is what allows people to express themselves and their ideas. Despite the possibility of free speech of being misused, it can also be used to create hope and power