Freedom of speech is a foundational cornerstone of American democracy. Featured prominently in the First Amendment, it was upheld by our Founding Fathers as essential to a healthy democracy. President George Washington said, “If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”
Free speech is an essential vehicle for citizens to express their views and desires to a government accountable to its citizenry. Likewise, it shows a respect for individual belief by allowing citizens to speak their mind, rather than being forced to silence their words or parrot the views of a ruling regime.
As Americans know, freedom of speech is not without challenges. The United States has struggled – from college campuses to the corridors of power to town halls – to protect freedom of speech, particularly where there are diverse opinions.
Freedom of speech must be protected for all people, including those with whom one disagrees. It is not a freedom to be enjoyed – or protected – only for those whose views align. A core measurement of a healthy democracy and individuals’ commitment to it is their dedication to civilly navigating diverse opinions and protecting the right for these different views to be expressed.
The beauty and challenge of democracy is that for our rights to be protected, they must be protected for all. As soon as we allow rights to be doled out based on who’s in or out, we lose our democracy.
Freedom of speech is not absolute. Where speech incites violence, it is rightfully limited by government.
Every president and administration has been faced with the reality that American citizens will actively voice their opinions. And while these debates and disagreements may seem to some – particularly autocratic leaders around the world – to be a weakness of our democracy, they are ultimately a sign of strength. People have a voice in our democracy, and our leaders are obliged to listen.
Democracy is a verb. Freedom of speech is at the heart of democracy, and each citizen bears the responsibility to protect it for all Americans. Only through our shared respect of this right can we ensure that it will be protected for each of us.
Follow the George W Bush Institute’s Democracy is a Verb series
Links to Other Content
