Freedom to express yourself has been one of the main pillars of Western civilization for centuries. It is a term that is used constantly in political dialogue all around the globe. Seeing that it is such a common term, and such an important value, I decided to write this post so you know exactly why freedom to express yourself is important.
Freedom to express yourself is important in ensuring your rights as an individual are protected from any intervention by the state. It means you have freedom of speech, freedom to protest, freedom of expression and are free from any state imposed oppression. This allows the individual and society as a whole to flourish.
Freedom of Speech
Freedom to express yourself naturally includes freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is the freedom that decrees the individual is inherently free to articulate their ideas and speak without any fear of censorship or intervention from the state. This is a crucial aspect of freedom of expression and the main reason for why freedom to express yourself is so important.
Freedom of speech is more than just another freedom. It is the fundamental mechanism humans have to organise their thoughts, articulate themselves and have their pre-existing ideas and notions challenged. It is right at the heart of expressing yourself, as without free speech, freedom of expression is non-existent. Freedom of speech is the fundamental right that has allowed humanity to progress as far as it has. It is the value that has been at the centre of Western civilization, and the main building block that has allowed the West to be so prosperous, throughout the last couple of centuries.
Freedom of speech is how new ideas come into fruition. It is how harmful ideas eventually become extinct. Freedom of speech ensures all ideas are challenged, and ensures that overtime only the most beneficial ideas become dominant. Freedom of speech is the only tool oppressed people have to spark change and challenge their oppressors. It is how society has progressed both socially and economically. It is the reason discrimination is becoming less common and why people are becoming more socially tolerant. It paves the way for diversity in all forms: Thought, ideas and people. It is for these reasons why freedom to express yourself is so important. If one does not have the freedom to express oneself, then they will never grow. They will continue to be oppressed and will have no viable option to make their lives better. Freedom of speech makes the lives of every citizen better off, which in turn makes society as a whole continually expand and become more prosperous.
Individualism in Regards to Freedom of Expression
At the heart of freedom of expression is individualism. An Individualistic society is one that focuses on the priorities of the individual rather than the wider collective. A society that focuses more on individualism is almost always going to give the individual more freedoms and rights. This is important, as freedom of expression and individualism go hand in hand.
Individualism inherently upholds the right of the individual to freedom and self realisation. This is crucial, as humans are biologically predisposed to be free and explore their own identities. Individualism ensures the importance of the individual is put before anything else. This is why freedom to express yourself is so important, without this freedom the individual is worthless. Without freedom of expression you are merely just a puppet of the state, which is not only detrimental to the individual’s well being, but the well being of society as a whole. When the individual feels heard, respected and is free to live life on their own terms, then that will manifest itself in society as a whole. A population of individuals who are free to express themselves as they wish is a population that is valued, happy, healthy and prosperous.
There are direct correlations with the amount of freedom the society gives the individual and the overall success of that society. Societies that value freedom of expression and individualism always are better off economically, better educated, healthier, happier and more prosperous. If you want to learn more about the value of freedom, click here.
Freedom of Expression in Regards to Diversity
Diversity has been a common buzzword thrown around in society and today’s political landscape. The best and most effective way to achieve true diversity is through the freedom to express yourself. This is because when we as individuals are free to express ourselves, we inherently also become free to explore ourselves and the wider world. This in turn creates an environment where each individual is unique in a plethora of ways. To link this back to individualism, what this means is not only is everyone unique, they are also all valued as individuals with no one being put on pedestal or anyone being held down. This is true diversity. Only freedom to express oneself can achieve this.
Freedom of expression also increases societies social tolerance over time. It is how African Americans have been able to break out of slavery, then secure their fundamental rights as citizens of the USA through the Black Civil Rights Movement. It is how society has become more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community over time, and allowed these people to truly express themselves to the world with no fear of discrimination. It is how women have secured the right to vote, torn down outdated societal norms and established themselves as just as deserving of every opportunity as a man. Without freedom of expression, none of this would have been possible. It is the only way true and long lasting diversity is achieved. True diversity is essential to maintaining a prosperous and progressive society that is always improving and striving to do greater things.
Summary
Freedom to express yourself is important in ensuring your rights as an individual are protected from any intervention by the state. It means you have freedom of speech, freedom to protest, freedom of expression and are free from any state imposed oppression. This allows the individual and society as a whole to flourish.
The main factor of freedom of expression is freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is the most crucial aspect of allowing an individual to express themselves fully without any fear of the state intervening. Freedom of speech is what has allowed society to progress as far as it has over the last couple of centuries. It is the only tool the oppressed have to challenge the status quo and create real change.
Freedom of expression is inherently tied to individualism. This is important as in an individualistic society the individual is always deemed more important than the wider collective. This in turn gives the individual the freedom and power to express themselves as they wish. This is of the utmost importance as it means the individuals can become the protagonist of their own lives which in turn makes society more prosperous in the long run.
Freedom of expression is the only way to achieve true and long lasting diversity. When individuals are free to express themselves and are all equal before the law, that is true diversity. Diversity is a crucial aspect that allows society to use the thoughts, ideas and expertise of everyone to make society more prosperous and progressive.
Liberal Kiwi 