Should The United States Promote Free Speech Abroad? (Essay Sample)

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Freedom of Speech
For many years free speech has been a topic which has been discussed widely due to the impact that it has on countries. Democracy established in many nations has provided safety and rights. Freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights guaranteed in many constitutions of democratic countries. It is the right to express opinions, communicate or write and publish. However, in many countries including democracies have controlled or denied citizens off these privileges. The main reason for this restriction of free speech has been the argument that unlimited freedom of speech can be harmful than helpful. Freedom of expression has had more positive impact than negative especially when it is objectively used. The United States of America being a country built on fundamental rights such as freedom of speech and in the interest of safeguarding its interest should, therefore, promote freedom of expression abroad.
One of the reasons that that United States should support free speech is that free speech will help to keep governments in check. Freedom of expression enables people to speak out especially when things are going wrong. James Madison, the America founding father, talked about the right of Citizens having the ability to examine public characters which are done by people speaking out about how they are governed. Famine has never occurred in a fully functioning democracy which allows free speech since people I power are held accountable by their people (Sen 18). The flow of information from people to their rulers makes sure that those in authority are held responsible and hence leads to better governance.
It is also important to promote free speech since it leads to individuals being able to realize their full capacity. When people are prevented from exercising freedom of expression, they are not able to fully be themselves. Ability to express ourselves is one of the things that differentiates human from animals and computers. Free speech facilitates generation of ideas from individuals who could have otherwise shied away from presenting such ideas in a system that doesn't encourage free speech (Lynn-Jones 128).
Freedom of speech is also important in society since it helps people to live with diversity and harmony. Progress in the human race is best done not by the suppression or absence of disputes but by dealing with them in a creative, civilized and peaceful way (Kant et al. 56). Freedom of speech tests our resolve to live in a society that we can tolerant of each other's ideas. If we live in a system which gags free speech, the community would be bovine and stagnant. In the case of disagreements, it will not automatically lead to blows since people will respect other people's opinions and at best they will agree on how they disagree...