For years, the First Amendment has guaranteed citizens the freedoms of expression, association, religion, assembly and petition, ideas or interests, and freedom of the press – and protected our rights to hold and express an opinion. Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or community to communicate their opinions without fear and is one of the key pillars of America’s understanding of human rights.
If we lose freedom of speech in America, our country will fall into the hands of those who destroyed my country – a socialist government. Socialists and other despotic regimes only like freedom of speech when it is convenient for them.
I was forced to leave my country, family, and friends at the age of 17 because of a socialist government. I never knew what freedom of expression was until I came to America. In America, I learned that the American Dream is not a car, or a house or anything material, but Freedom – that’s the American Dream to me.
On the one hand, the internet and social media empower freedom of expression by providing individuals with brand new ways to communicate and seek information. On the other hand, there are so many regulations and restrictions. One of the biggest issues affecting freedom of expression is censorship that is perpetrated by Big Tech. I strongly believe that media freedom remains an important part of our society and it is essential for the protection of our rights. Our community needs the media to provide accurate information which allows us to hold the government accountable.
We the People, should talk about America being the greatest nation – or at least a respected or admired nation – when it comes to freedom of expression and opportunity. We should talk about the fact that people from all over the world, just like myself, from various ethnic backgrounds, desire to come to America because of our core founding principles of freedom and opportunity. I would have never been able to get to where I am, telling my story about how socialism destroyed my family, my future, and education if it wasn’t for the First Amendment and all the opportunities this country has given me to build that American Dream that millions of people hope to achieve.
America means the right to express our thoughts and to communicate freely with others – to affirm the nobleness and value of each and every member of society, and to allow each individual to realize their full human potential.
