6th Value of Free expression

 

Promoting tolerance is the sixth value of free expression, and it is the one that stands out to me the most. This value emphasizes the idea that the government should not classify what speech is “hate speech,” instead leaving it up to society to determine what is tolerable and what is not. While this approach can feel troublesome, especially when harmful or offensive ideas are expressed, I believe it ultimately reinforces tolerance by allowing individuals to learn from ideas they disagree with rather than suppressing them.

Speech in society is constantly evolving. Words, phrases, and perspectives that were once considered acceptable can become offensive over time, and ideas that are taboo may eventually be normalized. Because these social norms change from generation to generation, it would be nearly impossible for the government to fairly and consistently regulate speech without causing an uproar in society. Leaving these decisions to the public allows tolerance to grow as people asses what they value, what they reject, and how they respond to harmful expression.

The overarching reason this value appeals to me is my interest in consciousness and the idea that each person’s mind should be free to think differently. I would agree with the argument that protecting even hateful or offensive speech can make society more tolerant. When harmful ideas are expressed openly, they can be challenged openly. Diminishing those ideas does not eliminate them, it only drives them underground, where they cannot be examined or criticized. Free expression forces society to confront intolerance directly rather than pretending it does not exist.

However, this value also has an interesting dilemma for me. I often think about the livelihood of individuals who become publicly criticized or condemned by the masses for something harmful they have said. In many cases, their infamy becomes a lesson for society about what not to say. On one hand, people may unite against a “big bad” and even learn from the situation. On the other hand, the individual being scrutinized can become isolated, losing their reputation, job, and even people they hold dearly that are no longer supportive. While this response comes from society rather than the government, it demonstrates how powerful public judgment can be and people who face this problem can lose everything important to them.

Problems also arise from leaving these decisions entirely to the public because tolerance varies widely across the nation. What one group considers unacceptable hate speech, another group may see as assured and unproblematic. This inconsistency can create confusion and conflict, but it also reflects the reality of a diverse society. Promoting tolerance does not mean endorsing harmful speech, rather, it means trusting society to learn from each other’s mistakes.

Ultimately, promoting tolerance through free expression makes our society stronger. Through tolerance, society allows itself to growth and better its people who confront issues such as hate speech and use moral reflection to acknowledge it. While imperfect and often messy, this value protects the freedom of conscience and acknowledges that tolerance is something learned, not enforced.