What Is Worth Fighting For

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech is the ability for one to speak his voice without fear of any persecution or repercussions. In most countries around the world, such freedom is not evident as there are limitations to what you can say, where you say it and when. Government officials are not allowed to say much at all about how a government is run, or be critical of the government, in most countries around the world including the ones where freedom of speech is a way of life.

If one visits London, one parks in that city is the home of the 'soap-box orator' - or where you can watch orators stand on their soap-boxes speak freely to the people gathered there. It is an interesting experience to watch and listen to these speakers talk on a wide range of topics - from asking you to repent as the world is ending to how governments are constantly spying on you!

These speakers rarely, or almost never, are picked up by the authorities because they talk on subject stat the governments feels is not dangerous to its security.

However, I am sure that these orators would not say something that can cause wide-spread panic and that their audience knows that most of these speakers are out there just letting go of some frustration. Also, they would not say anything harmful against any private individual without facing a lawsuit later on.

Most citizens of countries around the world allow a limited amount of freedom of speech - as long as it is within the limits of the laws of that country. There are some countries, however, like Myanmar, North Korea, Cuba, China, etc... where freedom of speech is a dream. Myanmar and North Korea, and even China label people who talk against the government as "dissidents" and jails them. Sometimes, such people just 'disappear' and never return.