The first amendment of the constitution is the first amendment because it is arguably the most important and should be the first of our rights that should always be protected. James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, along with the other founders believed that our freedom of speech would be the driving thing that makes the United States unique from most other nations. It is human nature to not agree on everything so it is important to voice opinions and respectfully debate on topics where the same idea is not shared. The whole purpose of the constitution is to ensure the betterment of the people and how can we better off the people unless we allow everyone to freely think and choose their own paths. For me as an American citizen it is difficult to imagine a place where I could not freely say what I was thinking and to voice my own opinions. The eight different speech theories of values of free expressions are meant to prove why free speech is so detrimental to a flourishing nation.
1. Marketplace of Ideas:
The marketplace of ideas is the idea that when there is a choice from right from wrong people will ultimately choose right. More specifically the choice of truth or falsehood. When people have the opportunity to see both of them then it is more likely that people will choose the truth. For example, if one news station is saying that something that is not true and has no real backing but another news station that is telling the truth and all of the proper evidence then it is only natural for people to realize which is right and what is wrong.
2. Participation in Self-Government:
In our country for every presidential election there are many debates so that the American people can better decide on which candidate they would like to vote for. These candidates say whatever they believe will give them a better chance of winning the election. If they were unable to say what they wanted to say then the people who are voting would not have an accurate gauge at what they really think. It is important for the voters to fully understand each candidate.
3. Stable Change:
The idea that groups of people who are being alienated or feel like they are not being heard are allowed to be heard. This theory believes that doing this allows people to speak rather than resorting to some type of violence. Having the ability to rant when something is wrong allows people to hear so they can help fix the problem.
4. Individual Self-Fulfillment:
Being able to speak freely just makes us feel like our individuals who have our own individual thoughts. Having people in your country think about things differently and from a different prospective allows everyone to be themselves which make our government very unique. This also just makes us human. No two people are the exact same and having the ability to freely speak and think proves that to be true.
5. Check on Governmental Power:
This specifically speaks on the press on how they have the power to expose any abuses of power by government. Then, the people are able to determine weather it is right to make any changes in the figures we vote for. A good example of this is the Watergate incident where it led to President Nixon being the first President to ever resign from office. It is important for the people to have the ability to receive fair and unbiased news.
6. Promote Tolerance:
This is implies that the more we see things that upsets us like any kind of hate speech or something like that is good for us because it shows us to be more tolerant in other parts of life. It is an interesting thought because hate speech is something that can get really ugly and inappropriate. Hate speech is certainly dangerous but the exposure to it can allow people to become less sensitive and learn from it.
7. Promote Innovation:
Having the ability of free speech allows for a much better sense of community because it encourages individual ideas. This is similar to individual self-fulfillment because it is about being your own person and creating a diverse environment. It makes life more interesting to be different than everyone else and having your own ideas.
8. Protect Dissent
This is the idea that is our responsibility as American citizens to critique the government and that it is ok even if your opinions are not the most popular. It is important that not all opinions are the same because everyone has different backgrounds which means that everyone has their own perspective.
5. Check on Governmental Power:
