Freedom of speech has been a topic of discussion for many years. Since democracy was established in many countries to provide safety and rights, freedom of speech has been one of the most important rights in any constitution. Freedom of speech constitutes a human right that all people should have and one that must be respected. As individuals, we are entitled to express our opinions, write, publish or communicate, and such expressions must be, if not shared, respected. Different countries have certain level of tolerance at the moment of executing this right. Sometimes freedom of speech can become more harmful than helpful. This liberty tells what happens in everyday life, makes you aware, informs you, but does damage when is not well founded, or is not objective, since it violates human rights. Those concerned with freedom of speech have always wondered about its limits. One of these limits is the incitement to violence. Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword that can change the course of many things; lives, civilizations, even history. For many people this liberty to express their feelings and beliefs has been beneficial. Unfortunately, the same liberty has been counterproductive for other people. There is a big difference between freedom of speech and violating the right of intimacy. Freedom of speech has proven to have such a tremendously powerful influence that it has changed the course of history in different occasions for the sake of the world. Since ancient times, humans have demonstrated the need to express what they think is right and what must be changed. As a result, the world has been transformed into a more tolerant society towards other cultures, religions and traditions. However, these innovations do not occur easily. Revolutions, wars, and much blood have been shed to get to what is now known as freedom of speech. In the United States, during the civil war, for instance, people fought for what they thought was right. The southern United States in favor of slavery and the north against it. In the end, even though many people perished because of war, slaves were freed and so began one of the many struggles that would follow to improve the common good and rights of expression. As was previously stated, freedom of speech has had great influence during the creation of contemporary civilizations. Unfortunately, the human freedom to express oneself and speak up can also help create a better world but may also destroy the seeds of tolerance. As mentioned before, freedom of expression is a double-edged sword. In today's society people usually tend to distort what freedom of speech is and what is only the opportunity to slander or insult others. The press, internet, or television can torment and harass people to distort information and can even destroy lives when it invades the privacy deliberately. It’s rare the occasion when the ability to do well does not entail the power to hurt, and a free press is no exception to this general principle. As a result, for instance, many paparazzi for being stalking actors and actresses, or anyone considered a celebrity, have ruined their lives by continuous interruptions during their significant events or even, during intimacy. This freedom, when is not well supported or is only used to cause controversy, not only can cause damage to individuals but also entire nations. This occurs when critical data or classified information is revealed to the world, destroying the sovereignty of a country. This past year there emerged a project called Wiki leaks which has been causing great controversy throughout the world. This project is a non-profit organization that seeks to expose the secrets of other countries, especially those secrets related with politics and their armies. Freedom of speech is a right, but at what price? This organization has been sending the so-called leaks of information. The consequences of filter files or top secret documents in a variety of governments such as Afghanistan, the United States, Mexico, etc. could cause major disasters; they could even lead to wars between countries. For instance, the leaking of classified military documents from several countries threatens human lives, both civilians and members of the armed forces. In addition, Wiki leaks actions of exposing weaknesses in the U.S. can serve to a terrorist attack and therefore endanger the lives of millions of people. Wiki leaks’ "publish it all" policy is one that can have repercussions in the not too distant future. To conclude, Freedom of speech is a form of expression that many people are lucky enough to exercise, people must be cautious, because this “right” is a double-edged sword, that can provoke major problems if isn’t well used. In some countries of the world, this right is punished, as in Mexico, where more than 65 journalists have been killed in recent years, possibly because of increased drug trafficking and how these reporters for trying to expose these criminals have been silenced. Maybe someday, people will understand and respect each other, and in the same time, express their opinions properly, because mutual understanding is the key to peace. As Benito Juarez, a former president of Mexico, also called the Mexico’s Lincoln, once said: “Entre los individous, como entre las naciones, el derecho al respeto ajeno es la paz” that means: "Among individuals as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace".
Reading is fundamental, Folks.
