Freedom of speech is an integral part of human rights. My opponents have rightly said that we cannot be free unless we are free to speak our minds. We cannot be free unless we are free to learn from others experiences and opinions. We cannot be free unless we are able to criticize politicians, policy makers and whatever is happening to us in different ways.
I fully agree that freedom of speech is important for a democratic society and it is now an integral part of our culture. Surely we have the press, media and the internet which are wide open like a blank canvas with us all using it for our expressions.
But there are a few questions we must ask ourselves about this freedom of speech...
Where is it all going? Who will control it? What are the limits? What sort of society it will create? Should individuals be able to say whatever they feel no matter what?
How might this work in a global community? And it is worth to go to the extent of fighting for it?
I am sure that all of those present here would be aware of what followed after the publication of the caricature of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) drawn by the Danish cartoonist. Muslims all over the world were outraged, extreme opinions were voiced and violence ensued. Without going into the details of who was justified and who was not. One thing is for sure, both parties were exercising their right to freedom of speech.
Freedom of speech is our right but we seem to forget that it is also our responsibility too.
And with great power comes great responsibility.
Freedom of speech is a double edged weapon, as much as it can be used for ‘freedom’ it can also be used to offend other people, it can incite hatred. It can confuse impressionable people and encourage then to be immoral or break laws.
Still my opponents feel that we need to fight to get more of it?
My dear friends—free speech does not occur in a vacuum