The Freedom of Speech and Expression - Essay Example

27 November Assignment Censorship means a ban in literal terms; in today’s world, a number of things have been banned in order to bringabout harmony and peace. The government has been trying to ensure a ban on things that might bring uproar and in tandem, bring about discord within society. For example, a number of people say things that are hurtful and mean when directed against each other and this leads to a great amount of conflict within society. Thus, in order to counter this issue and to keep sedation against the government and ruling power in check, speech and expression, to an extent is curtailed by the constitution or governmental powers in almost every democracy and republic around the world. The freedom of speech and expression has brought about a great amount of debate when it comes to the media and the people having access to a voice in the large crowd. The government has put a ban on things like libel, slander, obscenity and incitement in order to maintain peace among the people. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19 recognises the right to freedom of speech and expression as a human right. Article 19 of the ICCPR states that "[e]veryone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference" and "everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice". Every individual should have the right to be able to voice his thoughts and opinions in a free and fair manner, without having the terror of being thrown into jail for what he says. All over the world, free speech has been denied to a number of citizens because the government feels threatened by the power of the media as well as the masses instigated by the media. However, it must be noted that if free speech is allowing people to live a fair and harmonised lifestyle, then it should be allowed. The reason that there is a censorship on it is because people tend to misuse their freedom to pass comments and this leads to trouble on a large scale. Milton made an impassioned plea for freedom of expression and toleration of falsehood, stating: "Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties." For example, in a number of countries, blogging and posting information on social networking websites is not allowed because the authority feels that people end up abusing their workplaces and jobs and posting untrue statements about their conditions which leads a number of people into trouble. Speech should be free and fair when it is supposed to be; for example, one should be able to communicate thoughts freely without having to par a barrier. When speech helps in a positive light, it should not be blocked from usage. Thus, the situation in the Middle East could have been better had people not been denied speech and expression. The situation in the Middle East has worsened with regard to giving people freedom of speech. Most people are not allowed to surf social networking websites from their homes as well as workplaces because the security is extremely tight and the government does not want people to find out any sort of inside information. According to an online newspaper, Nasr, a Lebanese American, was asked to leave the network just a few days after she tweeted that she was “sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah...one of Hezbollah’s giants I respect a lot.” A number of journalists and media persons living in Arab countries have not only become frustrated but have also lost faith in and found fear in living in these countries because of the ban on free speech. (No Freedom of Speech on Middle East?") The same media platform also states that Ray Hanania, a Palestinian American radio host and syndicated columnist, worries about the future of those vocal Arab American journalists who have high visibility to the public. “I think there is a great concern that every Arab American journalist should have,” he said. “We have to watch our professional backs.” (No Freedom of Speech on Middle East?") On the other side of the world in the United States of America, journalists question what free speech is. “According to the Supreme Court, money that corporations spend to influence elections is free speech, and cannot be limited. But it seems a lot of our officials think it’s perfectly OK to place limits on free speech when it comes to the 99 percent which is very ironic considering that opposition to unhealthy, democracy stifling corporate influence on elections and government is at the very heart of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.” (Bloom, Jeremy) People occupying tents in Zuccotti Park, the financial district around the Wall Street area has been occupied recently by the ‘other’ or lesser section of society. The main objective for the people occupying the area was to undertake a movement against the 1% wealthy investors and brokers who formed the cream crowd because of whom the other 99% was left dwindling in poverty. In order to have their rights understood, the people had a right to voice their opinions which the police tried to suppress. However, this movement till date has been gaining worldwide recognition and support as it has been growing bigger day by day and has been able to reach people through a variety of social networking websites, media, press and the like. The reason people need freedom of speech is in order to celebrate the plethora of ideas that each person has, with another. In order to understand another person properly, a clash of ideas is required which will help people to come to terms with reality and broaden their horizons with respect to thinking. Even the most unpopular ideas that people have must be spoken about and shared with one another because of these ideas are suppressed then it will make an individual feel left out when no one listens to it. Thus, harmony can be brought about when people discuss even such ideas and help each other understand the positives and the negatives. In the modern world, there are a number of platforms for people to share their thoughts and ideas. Blogging has become one of the primary sources of such sharing of thoughts and beliefs. However, in a number of countries, for example in the Middle East, even this is not allowed because it does not comply with the collective goals of the governmental organizations apparently. However, the governments must understand that freedom of speech, if not provided, will turn people wild and itself instigate them towards hatred and dissatisfaction towards the central authority. Most people live in a capitalist society where the most dominant ideas that prevail are the ones coming from the heads of the wealthy sections of society. They are the ones that sell and produce goods and services and cater to the other sections. However, since everything revolves around them, it has become important to have the other sections of society have their voices heard as well. “Today the climate is especially chilling. From President Bush’s press spokesman telling everyone to “watch what they say,” to his minions threatening the New York Times with treason charges for exposing (illegal) government wiretapping programs; from the Patriot Act which allows all kinds of government spying and harassment to the new bill legalizing torture: this is the order of the day from the highest offices of the land. In New York, the great champion of “free speech” Mayor Bloomberg reigns—who just two years ago refused people permits to demonstrate against the Republican Convention. At least two suits filed in Manhattan federal court said police detained more than 1,800 people during the convention, many of whom were not even demonstrators. From top to bottom, the state and those who support this state are embarked on a drastic program of fascist-style suppression.” Freedom of speech and expression is thus a birth right of the people and must be provided to them no matter what; because every individual has the right to speak out whatever is in his mind and may it be a small and petty issue or a large movement, thoughts are thoughts and must be circulated among the people with a view to be heard and acted upon in order to bring about change and act for the welfare of the people. Works Cited "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." OHCHR Homepage. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. . Bloom, Jeremy. "Are Occupy Wall Street’s Tents Free Speech? NYC Mayor Bloomberg Says No. Source: Red Green & Blue (http://s.tt/13xOb)." Red Green and Blue 18 Oct. 2011. Print. "No Freedom of Speech on Middle East?" New America Media: Middle Eastern. Print. Read More