7: Protecting Dissent - An Important Value of Free Expression

As discussed in this week's Media Law & Literacy class, there are several important values that are necessary under the First Amendment to maintain truly free expression.  These 8 values are: the Marketplace of Ideas, Participation in Self-Government, Stable Change, Individual Self-Fulfillment, Check on Governmental Power, Promote Tolerance, Promote Innovation, and Protect Dissent.  While all of these are important, I will be focusing on the idea of protecting dissent for this blog post.

As the photo above says, "speech that everyone agrees with needs no protection."  It is important to protect dissent because it is by definition "the expression or holding of opinions at variance with those previously, commonly, or officially held."  Everyone has their own beliefs, opinions, preferences, etc.  We are all unique individuals.  There are very few things, if any, that everyone agrees on.  If there is an agreement, people have their own perspective of the issue even when they ultimately agree.  Every issue has multiple sides, and it is important to protect all of them equally.  If the minority in an argument is silenced, America would not be the land of the free.  As time passes, that minority opinion may turn into a majority opinion.  It is essential that all opinions are shared and heard because it leads to the best outcome.  When brainstorming, all ideas are laid out to pick the best one.  With dissent, everyone is sharing their opinion and they may have a perspective that was not addressed.  We are all entitled to our own thoughts and beliefs, even when they go against the popular opinion.