In the western world, people have been given a great many rights that they take for granted, the most common of which is the freedom of speech. This right, which is considered to be inalienable as per constitutional law, is by far the most valuable right that a human being can have, and one that I could not live without. Likewise, without the right of free speech, no justice or change could ever be enacted in this world. In order to defend my own freedom to speak my mind, there are very few ends that I would not go to.
Despite my outward “icicle” appearance, I do tend to be a rather outspoken person. My moral views are quite different, my political views are rather extravagant, and my sense of humor has been described by some as one of the worst things that has happened to humanity in the last two decades. And though some people would rather than I keep to myself, there’s very little that can be done to silence my unusual personality so long as I don’t commit slander. That simple fact, though unfortunate for some, is a beautiful thing that I would never surrender. Though my ideologies may be considered to be somewhat exotic, basic human sensibilities demand that they still be spoken regardless of their nature. Without that ability to speak one’s mind, a person would lose their own personal identity; they would cease to be an individual. And without that right, I myself would most certainly go insane.
In addition to the personal expression that comes through free speech, the benefits to society as a whole are undeniable. In order for any change to ever come in this world, in order for improvements to be made and wrongs to be made right, people must be given the right to express their own views. In today’s society, people have been raised to think as individuals and freely express their own wants and needs, and consequently these individuals are enabled to enact changes upon the world in which they live. Were it not for the desire for the freedom of speech, the world in which we live in today would never have come into existence. In the 1700’s, the American colonies lived in a world where free speech was stifled as often as was deemed necessary by the British crown. This massive injustice sparked a revolution that changed the world, and so was born a new age of free speech and thought. Since then, free speech has come to reign over much of the western world. Though this opens the door for a great many conflicting views, it allows for a much freer expression of majority opinions, which in the end ensures a much higher level of stability to the world than any absolute monarchy ever could.
The expression of free speech is an integral part of the human spirit that cannot be denied. Without it, people would lose their own identities and would inevitably harbor feelings of repression that have such a negative effect on the human spirit. The inalienable right of free speech should never be denied to anyone, regardless of how extreme their views may be. Without these extremes, no change would ever be able to come to this world.
6 comments:
Ziggy, I wish you would expand on this point: "Though this opens the door for a great many conflicting views, it allows for a much freer expression of majority opinions, which in the end ensures a much higher level of stability to the world than any absolute monarchy ever could."
And I'm not sure "icicle" is the exact word. Of course, I don't know what is but I don't think it's icicle!
You write, "My moral views are quite different, my political views are rather extravagant, and my sense of humor has been described by some as one of the worst things that has happened to humanity in the last two decades."
Quite different from what or whom? How do you define extravagant? How are political views extravagant? In terms of humor, are you a budding Don Rickles?
You conclude, "Without these extremes, no change would ever be able to come to this world." Can you provide some examples that demonstrate this?
You observe, "And though some people would rather than I keep to myself..." Have you considered your methods of presentation? If you changed or modified the way you offer your opinions, would people respond more positively. If you have a message you want to share, perhaps change the way you deliver the message. This does not mean you are compromising, but rather you are fine tuning your message for your audience.
I think that you appealed to ethos through your personal anecdote. It demonstrates fully how this impacts your life and gives you a place to talk about it. You also speak out of emotions as well as logic. This combination shows that you are in tune with what you are feeling, yet still are capable of speaking out the logisitics of it with a calm demeanor.
I also liked how you listed the ramifications that an inability to express one's self would reveal. This demonstrated that you understood the complexities of the issue and showed a greater comprehension.
I think that if you would have added more real life examples you would be able to appeal to a greater audience.
Ms. H:
With reference to the citation you made, I was essentially stating that despite the conflicts that can arise from the exercise of the the freedom of speech, the stability that it offers is much more profound and effective. It has been seen throughout history that human beings always crave to have the freedom to express themselves to their fullest potential, and a great many monarchs and despots have literally lost their heads in humanity's quest for total freedom. Though the expression of one's views may cause conflict on a personal level, the stability that is granted on a national level is much worth any risks involved.
theteach
In your time as a teacher, I'm sure you noticed that every class you taught had at least one person who quite simply never quite fit in. They might socialize somewhat, but they generally preferred to keep to themselves for one reason or another. I just happen to be one of those wall flowers, generally because my personality is quite exotic in a number of different ways from the average individual.
With regards to my mention of the need for extremes, we can easily look to the civil rights movement, women's suffrage, and the emancipation of African Americans. The advocates of these movements were all at one point or another on the fringe of society. With the ability to speak out on their beliefs, the changes they enacted would never have come into effect.
And as you said, delivery is a massive component in expressing one's beliefs. I myself, thanks to my twisted and at times utterly vile (though to some people amusing) sense of humor, still struggle at times with this aspect. But as you have stated, it can certainly help greatly with the reception of one's thoughts.
turtlebob106
I had certainly considered adding more real-life examples to the posting. My only concern was that the blog would simply become a massive appeal to pathos, which it could easily have if one were to make a lot of references to "the repression of the masses". However, as the previous posters have also noted, there were a few areas where I needed more examples, so I'm certainly going to have to make better use of them in the future.
"This right, which is considered to be inalienable as per constitutional law, is by far the most valuable right that a human being can have..." You clearly state your strong belief in protecting freedom of speech in the beginning of your blog. This is good because it sets the reader up for your unique style and opinions. The style of your speech portrays your personality which, I feel, furthers the idea of FREE speech and the different avenues it can take. I think you made this piece more powerful by putting yourself into it.
You write that you "just happen to be one of those wall flowers, generally because my personality is quite exotic in a number of different ways from the average individual."
You have me wondering. What is an exotic personality? Wondering too how you define the a"average individual" personality. I am not sure I have known anyone with an exotic personality.
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