"Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction." - (C) Wikipedia.
The concept of free speech is nothing new, and because its roots are long and deep in recorded human history it takes effort to work out what it is. It's due to complexities of understanding the natural course of it throughout history. In other words, it's not always been easy to see, and though continuing, it's not always apparent to us in full view.
A secret society exists, for example, as it ebbs and flows on a resilience to outside forces. They're not necessarily useful or vital and their aloofness makes it open to attack. An encoded way of speech and lofty belief system is also an anathema to a sense of public understanding. It doesn't help to educate us. It makes their ways different, and their outcomes unique.
By contrast, free societies want freedom of thought, dialogue, and conversation between people. The laws in such places are agreed upon and changed accordingly. It's the method of democracy. It's also the point and purpose of why we're alive. The utility of freedom of speech is to ensure life is fair, equal, and resourceful, and in line with who we are.
The fusion of religion and society has not resulted in a good life for people in the past. In some nations a separation between Church and state is necessary because of it. It means we're safe in the way in which we choose to live under a law. The resurgence of free speech implies we do not want our lives to be determined by another person's instinct for their survival.
Posted: 12 October 2024.