“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” ― S.G. Tallentyre, The Friends of Voltaire. Many stand by the right of free speech, claiming that every citizen has that right and should take full use of it. Others believe that there are certain things that should be be left unsaid. With our society’s advanced technology, and the massive popularity that surrounds social media, there is no getting around criticism of our views. What we’re saying matters; people are listening. However, everything we say seems offend someone in one way or another. The real question is, what can we really say? What is okay to talk about, and what things can we simply not say? As citizens of the United States, we have the right to voice our opinions, as untamed or unpopular as they may be. Although as individuals, we should strive to voice our thoughts in a respectable and productive manner, it is ultimately the right of civilians to articulate their thoughts in whichever way they please.
What words can we say? Many believe the use of swear words in a public manner should be censored instead of glorified. However, research actually shows that from a psychological point of view, swearing isn’t exactly a bad thing. “It is far more common to see strong offensive words used as emotionally arousing stimuli — tools to study the effect of emotion on mental processes such as attention and memory.” says Timothy Jay and Kristin Janschewitz in their article The Science of Swearing. Research continues to prove that swearing is actually promoting a deeper kind of psychological process; an emotional connection and an engaging discussion is coming out of using these words (Jay, Janschewitz). But where do we use curse words? In public? In a professional setting? The biggest wonder, and a common debate over the decades has been whether or not to swear in front of children. In Benjamin Bergen’s article titled Go Ahead, Curse in Front of Your Kids, he says go for it. “And I’m happy to report that, nowadays, if I drop an f-bomb in front of my kid, I don’t sweat it.” Bergen emphasizes that there are of course incorrect ways to use profanity in front of our children, such as verbal abuse and its psychological damages. Yet he also points out that there isn’t any scientific proof that exposing children to swear words imposes any direct harm in their lives. Bergen’s article emphasizes that there aren’t any necessarily ‘correct’ words to say in any sort of setting, and that utilizing assumed bad words can actually teach important lessons, instead of doing the presumed opposite. Although swearing in front of children is definitely not for everyone, swear words are within our language and have a proper use somewhere in our discussions and society. After mastering when and where it is appropriate and effective to utilize these words, the hope is that they will benefit our dialogue in ways that regular vocabulary has been unable to.
In the past, the main way for anyone to express their opinions was verbally. Recently, the internet is a whole advanced and unfamiliar platform, for anyone with access to publicize any kind of information they please. This kind of freedom has made constructive, healthy and useful judgement desensitized and calloused. More often than not, cruel and harmful comments are posted on the internet because they aren’t being vocalized; instead they are only read on a screen, with no face or name to attach them to. Is this what our freedom entails? To mindlessly post brutal and coldhearted comments on the internet?
As members of a free society, we constantly face criticism for nearly everything we say, especially on the internet. For instance, Bergen has assumably received criticism for the way he chooses to swear in front of his children. But, when does this criticism go too far? Laci Green faced this overwhelming critique, that many would seem as cruel and unnecessary. In Words You Can’t Say, a podcast hosted by Ira Glass, Green discussed how in her online sex ed videos she was being harassed and receiving threats from viewers for using the words male and female (Glass, 16:00). Green was simply discussing the anatomy of a penis and a vagina, and faced a massive amount of negative responses for using the common associated genders that these body parts are often attached to, proving that there will always be someone that disapproves of what you’re saying, but there shouldn’t be anything that prevents you from making your thoughts heard.
However, what if our speech was censored? If our language were monitored, and certain words were punishable by law, how different would our lives be? In other societies, this kind of radical censorship is the reality. Citizens cannot express any kind of disagreement towards any of their authorities or government. Chinese culture is infamous for strictly monitoring their people’s dialogue. Citizens are restricted from voicing their unfavorable opinions, especially if it is directed towards any type of governmental authority. Recently, a government directive in China sent back a list of economic topics that a media company was advised to edit before publishing.“It’s possible that the situation is more serious than previously thought, or, they want to prevent a panic,” says Zhang Ming in Sui-Lee Wee and Li Yuan’s article China Censors Bad Economic News. “They are worried about chaos,” he added. “But in barring the media from reporting, things may get more chaotic.” (Wee, Yuan). Envisioning a culture opposing ours so greatly can seem so unrealistic and distant. Imagining a life where our society and views are blurred and altered however the government prefers seems outlandish, when in fact the consequences of censorship could very well become our reality.
Ultimately, the beauty of the country that we live in has to do with our freedoms. Speech being one of them, we should remember that this freedom is something that we cannot restrict or moderate. As individuals, we should aim to use our liberty in ways that satisfy and fulfill our own character and beliefs. However, there will forever be someone who disagrees with what you’re saying. This conflict is what keeps our culture and society thriving, and it is important that we remember that although some opinions may be different, unrealistic or flat out unethical, it is our right and freedom to let them be heard.
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