The Value of Free Expression

While I was reading through the values of free expression, several of them stood out to me. However, values six and three stood out to me the most. Value three, referred to as Stable Change (or Safety Valve), caught my attention because this value is currently "playing out" in the protests centered around the new abortion bill in Texas. The sixth value, Promote Tolerance, also stood out because I believe tolerance is something that the world lacks and needs more of. 

There will never be a time when everyone in a community, country, state, etc. will agree with one another completely. This is simply the consequence of free thought. We all have different beliefs and moral compasses, and this is one of the reasons I believe that the sixth value is important. As I mentioned before, people have been protesting in Texas. By doing this they are presenting their differing perspective on this controversial issue. 

Picture taken by Evan L'Roy with The Texas Tribune

In the explanation of his theory (the sixth value), Lee Bollinger focuses on a Neo-Nazi march that was scheduled to take place in Skokie, Illinois in 1977. Protests and marches are typically protected by the First Amendment, but this particular march grew rise to wide protest because there was a considerable population of Holocaust survivors living in Skokie. In the end, the courts ruled that the march was protected under the constitution even though hate speech and discrimination fueled it and the judges disapproved of nazism. Essentially, Lee comes to the conclusion that extremist events such as these (although upsetting) are important to increasing society's general tolerance of individuals' views and opinions. 

Although the protests taking place today aren't as extreme, they are centered around a sensitive subject and have led to heated arguments. These protests also help to bring awareness to the situation as a whole. People, who may or may not be neutral towards the situation, are exposed to both sides' opinions and the reasons behind their stances, and with more exposure comes more understanding. Overall tolerance can even grow through secondary contact with an event. For example, someone could've been in Skokie when the Neo-Nazis were attempting to protest and not have liked what they heard/saw. Then they might share their opinions (as the Neo-Nazis shared theirs) with another person while using the Neo-Nazis as an example of intolerance. Therefore, spreading and promoting tolerance. 

Earlier I talked about how the third value is "playing out" currently in Texas (and some other areas). I think this is a perfect example of why Stable Change is so important. When making laws, politicians sometimes lose sight of the effects they have on everyday people. Without the right to protest and make their voices known disgruntled citizens wouldn't have an outlet, and the government wouldn't know the effects of their actions. This theory also says that by allowing people to show their discontent keeps them from becoming violent. However, I'm sure that if someone was constantly ignored (although they've been protesting publicly) violence could still become a problem. 

Overall, I think protests (of any kind) are a part of societal change and transformation. I'm glad that we have the First Amendment to protect them because sometimes they're necessary for a better future.