Values Of Free Expression Reflection: Protect Dissent

 When it comes to people having their own opinions, I believe that everyone should have their own opinions and that we shouldn't be criticized or hated for saying how we feel. I have personally lost good friendships because of simply having to agree to disagree, and it wasn't in a harmful manner. I was just stating my opinion, and because my opinion didn't match theirs, one conversation turned into a heated argument, and who's to say who was right or wrong? Nobody is at fault for saying they feel. 

Out of the 8 Values Of Free Expression, I'm choosing to talk about the eighth value of free expression because I have been a witness to what occurs when freedom of speech and opinion is looked down upon. criticized, and eventually turned into hatred or violence, both physically and verbally. I believe that everyone has the right to say what they want, when they want, and how they want. It's up to them to decide on how they want to deliver their message, but nobody should be hated or "cancelled" for their opinion, which is why I appreciate the value of expression, and I believe that if everyone considered having a positive outlook to this value, then it would open our minds to healthier communication and reduce violence.

After reading a few pages in Steven H. Shiffrin's book "Dissent, Injustice, and the Meanings of America", I found this writing to be very insightful. He shares that the Free Speech theory should be taken beyond protecting or tolerating dissent (Page 91). He goes on to mention that a healthy society has to go beyond just "tolerating" dissent just because it is a legal necessity, and that it should constantly value its purpose. People should want to have healthy societal patterns without it being a form of a requirement, but because of the world we live in it has to be enforced to at least accept the minimum, and it goes deeper than just an "agree to disagree" moment, it applies to all of the layers of topics (race, gender, religion, social class, etc.). 

Applying this to my own life, I believe that creating an environment where freedom of speech is met with open-mindedness and compassion instead of hostility and fallouts. The most patriotic thing we as a people can do is support someone who's presenting a different perspective. For me, it is like a moment to step away from a culture of judgment and into a culture of welcoming all types of opinions, even if I don't agree to them. 

I strongly believe that this is also tying into world peace, to ultimately have people all over to be on one accord as far as how we should treat each other, rather than having someone dictate us we should just naturally be willing to agree that everyone should have the right to say what they want and out of respect we can learn to agree to disagree. We should be able to create spaces where people can feel safe to speak their minds without having fear of being criticized and attacked, and ultimately challenge the status quo.

Top 5 Sources of News

The importance of news looks different for everyone, some might find one piece of news extremely important, while others might find that same piece of news totally irrelevant. How people get their news also looks different; the use of social media has helped narrow down what kind of news you see based on what you like within your algorithm across platforms. 

Instagram 

Majority of my news comes from Instagram. Following my local news station as well as other influencers that share the news of things going on nearby, keeps me in the loop and informed with what's going on without having to turn on the tv. Because of my algorithm on Instagram, it shows me content based on what I interact with on a daily basis, the news I see usually relates to things that matter to me or impact my surroundings. It's a convenient way for me to stay informed no matter where I am. 

Apple News 

I also get some of my news from Apple News, usually when I want more detailed information about a larger story. It's convenient as the app is built in my phone so I don't have to do too much searching. It gives me full articles from different news outlets. 

My parents 

My parents are another major source of where I get my news from. The flow of everyday life as a college student can be full of many tasks and activities so checking the news isn't always something I just automatically go to or see. When I have my phone calls with my parents, they'll always catch me up on things I haven't seen and most of the time it's news pertaining to where I'm from but sometimes it's about things around campus or other states depending on how many it is. This keeps me in the loop without actively having to search for it.

 Source: FreePik

Friends

My friends are another way of hearing the news. Having conversations on campus sometimes includes talking about things they've seen on social media that I might have missed on social media. Usually this source of news isn't the same as the news that I'll receive from my parents. When important things happen, my friends will come and tell me, especially when I take breaks from social media which is a primary source of where my news come from. 

Google 

When I need quick information or want to learn more about something specific, I use Google. Searching allows me to get recent information about current events. The Google app sometimes sends notifications about trending news stories and sometimes if it's interesting to me or I want to learn more about it then I'll click it and start to skim over it. 

Instead of relying on traditional news sources like television or newspapers, I get my sources of news through social media, news apps, and conversations with my family and friends. These sources are easy access to my everyday life and allow me to stay updated while having a busy schedule, and I'm still able to stay aware of important events.