Free speech is significant across many different areas of our lives. Some of these connections are more obvious than others, but Free Speech Week allows us to stop and consider all different aspects of this freedom. I talked to several of my professors this week to find out more.
Dr. Lindsay Marshall is my instructor for gateway to belonging. This required freshman class seeks to help freshmen find their place at OU and foster a sense of community and belonging here on campus. Dr. Marshall shared with me the role free speech plays in creating spaces of belonging.
Being able to speak our minds without restriction from the government is important.
“That’s crucial to us being able to find belonging to each other,” Dr. Marshall explained. “When institutions of power determine how we engage with each other, it ensures that we can’t be our authentic selves.”
This authentic self is something we discuss in class quite frequently. However, Dr. Marshall expanded on this: there is a level of responsibility that comes with free speech if it is going to be truly capable of extending belonging to all.
“Freedom to speak is not the freedom from consequence.”
Being reckless with our speech is just as dangerous as an institution controlling our speech. Luckily, if we respect the value of free speech, we can learn to wield it responsibly.
On a more personal note, Dr. Marshall explained what free speech means to her.
“It’s important to me because I think decent is one of the most crucial tools that we have for seeking a more just society.”
Next, I spoke to my environmental studies professor. Dr. Rebecca Sherry gave me some examples of the role free speech plays in environmental issues. Once again, this topic lined up very well with what we had already been discussing in class.
“I have a few examples within this lecture,” she told me after class. “Some substance was banned or regulated, but in most of these cases, initially the press was heavily involved. A journalist made people aware of issues with particular chemicals or substances.”
This is generally true for all types of environmental issues.
“Getting information out there that can sway public opinion has been important to a lot of environmental regulation.”
The right to free speech allows people to raise awareness whenever something is not right in our society.
When I asked Dr. Sherry what free speech means to her, she acknowledged that she had never thought much about it.
“Since I never felt I didn’t have it, it’s hard to say.”
Upon further consideration, though, she had an answer for me.
“Any improvement always starts with talking about what’s wrong, so the ability to criticize our government…it’s absolutely necessary to improving life.”
I found this really insightful. Free speech is something we often take for granted. This is why Free Speech Week is important. It causes people to slow down and appreciate what we have.
With this in mind, the last professor I talked to was Christina Audas. She has lived in many countries around the world. I wanted to find out if she had experienced life in places where freedom of expression is more restricted than it is in the United States.
In some of the places she has been, Professor Audas was aware of a difference in expression.
“I’d say there’s more fear of oppression to speak freely…I don’t think folks feel as emboldened…I don’t know if that’s because there’s actual lived experience of violence happening, or if it’s just part of the culture.”
American culture puts a lot more emphasis on free speech than some other parts of the world. It’s up to us what we do with this. Professor Audas uses this to encourage understanding across cultures. Respect is an important part of utilizing free speech.
“If I hear someone say something in class…I try to use those opportunities,” she explained. “We need to create spaces of humanity.”
As you go through the rest of your week, take time to think about the many areas of your life that are affected by free speech!
