Subscribe to this blogIf we didn’t have freedom of expression I believe that we could never even dream of the life we are living now. Today, I can say what I want, and stand up for what I say. We control our own lives and the government doesn’t control us.
When I first think about a society without freedom of expression and speech I think of some sort of a dictatorship, meaning that one man or a small group of people are controlling the country and the rules it follows. A one-man dictatorship is where there is almost total freedom of repeal whereas an authoritarian dictatorship means that residents can come with their opinions, but they have little or no freedom of action. In relation, I believe that those who are in charge of a dictatorship (the dictator) are in complete and total control. If you say anything against him/her you will get punished.
In such “dictatorship-like” societies I think the government would control the media; the government would choose the information they want people to hear. This would lead to one common thought and opinion among the people. People have to say what the government tells them to say for the fear of being prosecuted. To live in a fear of being prosecuted is to live in a cage censorship—prison. Everything you believe that may be against the established law or government is wrong. Therefore, we can’t say what we mean, we cannot use our own words and we cannot voice our own opinion. How can we live like that?
I believe also that the entire media would be different. There would only be certain films shown at cinemas, certain themes that artists are allowed to sing about, and certain themes for television-programs.
“See we just had a misunderstanding. I thought we lived in the U.S. of A., the United States of America. But actually we live in the U.S. of A., the United States of Advertising. Freedom of expression is guaranteed? If you’ve got the money!” – Bill Hicks
Is it like this in the United States? Is it the case that in some societies, those with the most money can say whatever they want without getting punished?
Every Miss Universe participant says in their speech that they want ‘world peace’, I would say that you can’t have world peace without a world where you have freedom of expression, in EVERY country. Freedom of expression is really important, and everybody should enjoy this human right.
“I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams.” – Madonna.
This is what I call freedom of expression, and that’s something everybody should have.
