Blog #3: Eight Values of Free Expression

After reviewing the 8 values of free expression we discussed in class, Promote Innovation was a value that resonates most with me. This value discusses the important of the Freedom of Speech and how we, as a society, can learn from all kinds of speech.

The Freedom of Speech feels most important to me because if people were not allowed to express their thoughts and opinions, then we would be stuck hearing the same ideas from people in power and be punished for simply stating what we think. Everyone thinks
differently and has different ideas about various topics, which is what helps us learn and understand each other. Without difference of opinion, we would all sound the same and not be able to advocate for change in society. People would be punished for expressing their ideas and be silenced by the government.

Out of the Eight Values of Free Expression, I see Promote Innovation and Protect Dissent in action today. A lot of people have expressed their dislike over Jason Aldean's song "Try That In A Small Town". Some people have started protesting their dislike for the song, by burning the American flag, saying that "America was never great". People are encouraged to express their opinions and ideas over dislike or appreciation of certain things and decisions made.

As we discussed in class, since the people who burned the American flag were doing it in an act of protest over Jason Aldean's song, it is protected by the First Amendment.

Even if the group protesting the song had minimal support, their opinion is protected by the First Amendment, no matter how many people disagree with them. It is the right of the protesters to criticize the government, and say why they do not agree with them and what they think the government should do to change.