In honor of Free Speech Week, we asked students at Saint Leo University the question, “What does free speech mean to you?” Here are some of their responses.
When I think of the power of the First Amendment, the first thing that comes to mind is that sense of comfort that one feels when they have tried to do the right thing, but it did not work out. The best example that attests to this is the Texas abortion ban and the many women who stood up to voice their beliefs in hopes of chance. Whether it is right or wrong is not my focus; my goal is to show with this example what freedom of speech can do. It can give those women the opportunity to fight for what they believed was right, and if nothing changes, they have the comfort to say that at least they tried. And that is the beauty of free speech for me. It takes the fear of losing your life, and gives you the chance to speak what you think, even if it’s against a big corporation or government. It gives one the peace of mind that comes after trying to fight for what you think is right, and I think that’s something very powerful that I’m happy to be able to enjoy.
Isangeley Lopez, Junior, Criminal Justice
Censorship has become one of those things that you have to watch your back for with everything: say one wrong word and you’re worse than dead. And it leaves people asking:
“What in the world happened to freedom of speech?”
Answer? It got canceled.
While I will admit that there are moments when common sense should prevail and a person ought to self-censor some of their thoughts (i.e. if you’re the swearing sort, don’t say such words in front of people who don’t swear, don’t tell dirty jokes in mixed company) depending on their audience, the idea of societal censorship as it stands today is, to my understanding, in direct opposition to the ideas set forth in the First Amendment. What springs to my mind is a story that I was told about a military man who spoke out about the evacuation from the Middle East in a way that was contrary to how the story was regularly being presented and wound up imprisoned.
In addition, it is far more difficult for people to understand what is or is not to be trusted. You only get one side of a story and are shut down if you ask questions.
Heidi Konow, Senior, English with Theatre Specialization
Free speech means I am free to express my feelings and opinions to whomever and whenever I want, without fearing government punishment. Free speech means I can speak freely about various topics and situations. However, that does not mean I am protected from the consequences of saying whatever I want. For instance, if I were to say “fire” at the theater in my conversation, it would cause a panic and could potentially put others in harm; my words put people in danger, and that is a punishable offense in the same way as physically hurting them.
Khamille Labbe, Junior, English with Professional Writing Specialization
Freedom of speech means a lot to me, and I am very grateful that in the United States, it could not be as accessible as it gets. There are many things that you can say except for instilling violence among others, or encouraging others to act in on violent acts in any way.
Freedom of speech allows you to be fully expressive in your thoughts, values, ideologies, how you view things, and how it would impact others. In other words, it is a very influential concept that has a lot of pros and cons. The First Amendment right to freedom of speech guarantees people the ability to express said thought on any topic, whether political, environmental, spiritual, or mental. In instances like this, freedom of speech is a way better concept than censorship because of its whole idea of allowing one to state their concerns or agreements. In contrast, censorship is restricted and can often correlate to a political agenda.
Aalanis Harrison, Sophomore, English with Professional Writing Specialization
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says, “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…” In June of 1789, James Madison introduced a clause to the House of Representatives that stated: “The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments…” The language was changed before being presented to the Senate, and the final clause was agreed upon by both the House and Senate.
The phrasing of Madison’s unrevised amendment proposal gives us a more detailed definition of “speech.” We can conclude that the writers of the Constitution wanted American people to have the right to speak, write, and publish their opinions. The First Amendment restricts the United States Government from placing laws that infringe upon those rights.
With First Amendment rights, Americans enjoy the liberty to express beliefs, opinions, and grievances without facing punishment by law. Actions not protected by the amendment are those that harm other individuals or society. Freedom of speech is something all Americans should appreciate and celebrate, not just during Free Speech Week, but every day.
Jess Garner, Junior, English with Professional Writing Specialization
Free speech is one of the most important rights granted to American citizens. To me, it means the ability to speak out against things we as citizens disagree with, and form solutions around those problems without the fear of government retaliation. Free speech gives me the right to raise my voice, take action, and act in support of those who are often not heard, seen, or have the ability to speak up against issues in the United States. Without free speech, fights against racism, gun violence, women’s rights, and other social issues would be pointless. The voices of these social movements would become silent due to fear. Without the First Amendment guaranteeing our rights to freedom of speech, the right to assemble peacefully, and to petition the government. We would face situations like the censorship in North Korea where citizens are killed or imprisoned for their viewpoints against the Kim family dynasty. There is also Malala Yousafzai, a student the Taliban shot due to speaking out in support of women’s education. Freedom of speech empowers people to speak out and promotes the expression of new ideas, but unfortunately is one right taken for granted.
Eternity Rodriguez, Freshman, Psychology Major
To me, free speech means the right to voice your opinion and what is on your mind without having to worry about being persecuted. This means that I can verbalize something extremely controversial without the government getting negatively involved, and blowing it out of proportion. I understand that there is a certain extent that you should take freedom of speech, but it brings peace and changes in society. This allows me to listen to other individuals, and a lot of them have good plans. Without it, we wouldn’t have been here today, and in the good society we live in. We will have both sides, either you agree or disagree, and it helps bring morals and respect.
Deon Davis, Freshman, Sports Business
The First Amendment was passed on Dec. 15, 1791 to protect the freedom for people to gather for assemblies, or freely speak how they feel without anything being held against them. The five rights in the First Amendment are the power to obtain freedom of religion, freedom from governmental meddling with the practice of religion, freedom of expression, the right of freedom of press, the right to assemble peacefully, and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances. Together, all five freedoms guarantee the promissory from the United States to be a free country. The First Amendment guarantees people the right of freedom of speech by prohibiting Congress and any other form of government from restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely. Additionally, it guarantees the right of citizens to assemble peacefully and petition their government.
Na’Talia Mitchell, Freshman, Biomedical and Health Sciences
Free speech is more than what it may seem like or is. Free speech, to me, has a deep meaning in life. It’s being able to speak your mind without being judged or criticized. Free speech is when you can make statements and not feel like you said too much or hurt anybody’s feelings with the statements. I believe that everybody has the right to speak their mind, but in today’s world, some may feel like their word or opinion doesn’t matter. That’s where problems occur. I believe that everybody has the right to speak their mind and it doesn’t matter what level you’re at in life. Free speech is when you can walk into a room, and be free (as in being able to be yourself without holding your tongue for anybody).
Rahim Muhammad, Freshman, Sports Business
From North to South, from East to West, in the whole U.S.A, freedom of speech is the law. Every citizen is protected by the First Amendment that ensures everyone the right to say whatever they want to say, without interfering with the rights of others.
Here we are learning skills and knowledge for the future because we are morally responsible for all we say. I can say whatever I want to say, the way I want to say it, and not interfere with what others want to say, because after all, we are responsible for what we say.
Jared R. Davila Cruzado, English with Creative Writing Specialization
The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech because it helps make sure that no one will get put down for voicing their opinions. It also helps because it allows news outlets to put out any facts they want, no matter how much it goes against the government. The First Amendment allows for the freedom of assembly, which also helps the average U.S. citizen to stand up for what they believe in.
Karen Hastings, Sophomore, Digital Communications
Free speech means to me the freedom to express myself and my ideas without any restrictions. It is the opportunity to impose myself in which situation I am required to, to stand up and be able to speak. Also, it is a synonym of liberty, which in a country as the United States is the number 1 priority and right of every citizen. To be able to express yourself is an opportunity that not everyone has, so it means a lot to me.
Joao Pedro Palmer Boyd, Freshman, undecided major
Free speech is a right that we are blessed to have; it allows us to speak our mind on anything and anyone that we please. Free speech allows us to express ourselves in ways that we couldn’t if this right was hindered. It means that we are allowed to say anything that we want without fear of persecution. Individuals are able to express ideas, opinions, and anything that they want and not have to worry about negative outcomes from it. The freedom of speech is what allows every person to be exactly who they want to be.
Meghan Kennedy, Junior, Criminal Justice Major
