When Freedom of Speech Was Freer

Thoughts On Our Age Of Self-Censorship

Victor was a college friend, from a country controlled by a dictator for longer than he could remember. One evening as our group of friends was having dinner, the conversation turned to U.S. politics. One of our friends, an American named John, said something critical about whoever was president at the time.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

Victor looked alarmed and urged John to lower his voice. He was afraid that John, or all of us, might get arrested. All of the Americans at the table hurried to reassure Victor that no one was in danger, and that criticizing the government was not only allowed, but protected by law. Victor looked amazed.

I felt so proud to be an American in that moment, to be able to share with our friend the gift of freedom of speech that our founders had granted us centuries ago. I still remember that feeling of pride. But more recently, that memory has been tinged with nostalgia. 

The change has occurred gradually. I first noticed it at a political meet-and-greet a few years ago, when a couple asked if it would be safe to put a campaign sign in their yard, or a bumper sticker on their car. I assured them that it would be fine. Privately, I wondered why anyone who had spent their life under the protection of the First Amendment would even ask such a question. 

But in recent years, I have heard more and more people express that fear. And I have come to realize how fragile our freedom of speech really is. Protection under the law is necessary to grant that freedom, but it is not sufficient. We also need a society that encourages its members to exercise it and a government that will continue to protect it. 

This is critical because democracy thrives on dialogue – friends, neighbors, loved ones, and even strangers hearing differing ideas and disagreeing, with some degree of respect. Most of us still have private conversations like that. 

But what is different now is the heightened fear of retaliation for the public expression of opinion. If we are too afraid to risk that public dialogue, the voters around us will be exposed primarily to only one name and one agenda. 

And sometimes mere exposure is enough to influence a vote.

Post submitted by Julia Cochran
Julia Cochran is a volunteer with The Union and a licensed counselor in private practice in Georgia. She grew up among a family of democracy-loving Republicans in South Carolina and served as president of her local Teen-Age Republican chapter.

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