Blog Post #3

The Value of Expression and Tolerance in Society

Free expression is the American right to express one's thoughts and to be able to communicate freely despite others opinions, actions and thoughts. This value allows each American individual to realize and use their own human identity. One of the eight values of our right to free expression is to promote tolerance. Whether it is tolerance of speech or action, its effectiveness gives in its ability to channel controversial disagreements toward productive societal changes. Free expression characterizes the level of tolerance that society allows individuals to use in their willingness to voice conflicting opinions or statements.

One of the eight values of free expression being to promote tolerance, includes promoting the tolerance of speech and expression such as crucial acts of hatred including the topic of hate speech. Hate speech can be detrimental to individuals in society, but we as equal individuals should understand that promotion of tolerance toward hate speech does not protect us within the government from criticism. The people in society can manage their own speech themselves. This is the idea of self-control in knowing that society is strengthened by refraining from such acts of cruelty, and practicing the exercise of tolerance.

Furthermore, as stated by Lee Bollinger "The First Amendment needs constant minding in order that its full meaning be preserved." Continuing, Bollinger has explored free speech issues while examining various studies in law, extremism, obscenity, and public access to mass media. Bollinger argues that hate speech should be protected, and the government should not have to shield us from it. He explains that all humans should be capable of expressing their opinions whether involving criticism or not. Bollinger believes hate speech is critical to display in society because it acknowledges individuals in society communicating with the government, knowing that all humans are given the right to speak their opinion.

Promoting tolerance in society is important to understand because while individuals are allowed to express themselves through saying whatever they want to say (with their own right), it can make individuals and institutions more open to ideas and actions they may originally have disagreement with. In terms of examples of this, social media has a lot to play into some crucial and controversial ways of spreading criticism and such hateful expression. 

Social media is a platform where anyone can represent and share with the world, however, it may be taken out of hand, too easily. Twitter, for starters. In a CBS News article, it is recognized that Twitter saw an immediate spike in hate speech after Elon Musk took over. Twitter's staff looked at tweets within his first twelve hours of ownership and saw vulgar and hostile use of rhetoric comments at people based on their race, ethnicity, and sexuality. Such vulgar language can be so easily abused on such a simple and easy-to-use platform-which is unfortunate in regards to the vast population and demographic of users in today's generation. Social media can take such little doses of information, and spread within a matter of light- speed. Posting on such prevalent platforms of social media, can cause more harm since there are far more repercussions of a generally large population of viewers, who will see the post, and either strongly or disagree with what is said. Everyone is allowed to express their opinion, which is understood. It is just a matter of who is listening to it and if they feel like they need to benefit from listening to it. In reality, promoting tolerance is thought of and meant to allow individuals in society to say whatever they want to say, with the repercussion of knowing there is disagreement.

However, out of the eight values of free expression, I find the idea of Individual self-fulfillment to resonate the most with me. With this free expression, it gives all individuals in society the ability to express themselves and create their own identity. This can be started with the natural given right to form your own beliefs and opinions AND the right to express those beliefs and/or opinions. Overall, the purpose of society is to allow all individuals to promote the welfare of ones self-fulfillment, meant for each person to be their own person, while accepting that from others. Not only does this value create individuality for oneself and the idea that all individuals in society are equal, but it is meant to allow everyone to be their own person, have their own values, and express their own rights. This is what makes everyone in society equal, while making everyone in society different from one another too.