Dylan Maryk - Contributor
On 15th December 1791, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted, stating, “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech”. The concept of free speech, I submit, must be considered core to democracy and a fundamental human right, for it allows for completely open and honest discussion and debate, which is surely ideal and necessary for a society that collectively desires, at least in theory if not entirely in practice, liberty and freedom. Over two centuries later however, the upholding of such an essential value continues to repeatedly fail, and in my defense of freedom of speech and freedom of expression I intend to portray, condemn and argue against such weakness and cowardice that disappointingly suggests democratic populations will take what they themselves consider their rights for granted, as though they need not be defended, to then allow them to crumble.