Eight Values of Free Expression

 We, as Americans, value our Freedom of Speech immensely, because it protects our right to say anything that we desire, even though it might not be everyone's favorite opinion. Citizens in other countries do not have the same luxury as Americans do. Don't get me wrong, America is not perfect in any way shape or form but Americans should be grateful that we won't get shot or executed simply because of a difference of opinion. 

The Eight Values of Free Expression are Discovery of Truth, Participation in Self-Government, Stable Change, Individual Self-Fulfillment, Check on Government Power, Promote Tolerance, Promote Innovation, and Protect Dissent. Out of the Eight, I believe that Participation in Self-Government resonates with me the most. The idea of Self-Government is that the people of America have the freedom to govern themselves as an independent state. This came from Ancient Greece when Democracy was on the rise and beginning to form. It started in Athens but then quickly spread throughout the entire Greek Empire. Fast Forward to today and here we are using the exact same values and concepts. 

Even though this idea came about long ago, the use of Self-Government has shifted dramatically throughout the years. With technology being extremely prevalent, it has opened up a new door as to what people can freely express and what is the extent of it. I, personally, do rely on social media but more specifically, Instagram and Snapchat. Technology and Social Media as a whole has become increasingly difficult as to knowing when the line has been crossed on various issues that are going on in our world today. 

One example is that we have the on-going issue of privacy and companies taking advantage of our information, what we say and do online. This cuts into our Freedom of Expression and our right to privacy. Many of us, including myself, sign contracts before signing up to join a site and we never truly read what rights we are giving to these social media companies. Technology is pushing boundaries to the point where it cuts into our Self-Government, and Governments Power. The Government throughout technology and social media is censoring what we are allowed to do. Censoring insane things like a Google search, and no one would even think to realize what is not being allowed. 

One theory that can explain what is happening in the world currently is Promoting Tolerance. In today's world we still have an issue with accepting others only because they do not have the same beliefs as you. Over the years, politics has been continuously driving people further and further apart. People do not want to be even associated with you because of it, no one is given basic respect and our society continues to form this lingering issue. There are violent verbal and physical fights most of the time probably every day at this point, unfortunately, it is only getting worse. Overall, our society has much to do in order to apply these freedoms correctly in order to properly correspond with everything that happens in our world today. These Freedoms of Expressions are there for a reason and we must continue to use them.