Eight Values of Free Expression

 March 25, 2023

Speech Theories 

The eight values of expression theories are a foundation for comprehending and analyzing different forms of creative and innovative expression.

Resonates

4. Individual Self-Fulfillment ( aka Self-Actualization) — see C. Edwin Baker, Human Liberty and Freedom of Speech

Out of the Eight Values of Free Expression, Individual Self-Fulfillment resonated with me the most. This is because it allows us to work and achieve our goals, find our true purpose in life, and reach satisfaction in our lives to provide a sense of happiness and pride for ourselves. In addition, self-fulfillment allows us to evolve and find our strengths and recognize our achievements. All in all this can lead to better self esteem and increased perseverance. 

Most Important 

7. Promote Innovation — see Jack Balkin, Living Originalism

​​I believe Promote Innovation is one of the most important aspects of the Eight Values of Free Expression because it allows individuals to express their thoughts and ideas freely without having to fear penalization. This leads to a more educated and open society, where ideas can be reworked and improved through discussion and debate. Additionally, it helps to ensure that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions, as people are able to freely criticize and challenge them. Ultimately, free speech will strengthen a democracy by encouraging intellectual diversity and the interchanging of ideas.

Most personal

8. Protect Dissent — see Steve Shiffrin, Dissent, Injustice and the Meanings of America

Out of the Eight Values of Free Expression I found Protect Dissent to be most personal. When it comes to Protecting Dissent , new ideas are evaluated and old ones are questioned. Without this, society is at risk of having outdated thinking and societies would be in danger of authoritarianism. As a dance teacher, I am constantly thinking of new ideas in regards to costumes, choreography, etc. I partake in conversations with other teachers and dance friends, to which they offer advice and additional critiques. I see protecting dissent to be similar to working as a team, which helps me present my creativity in the most successful way. 

Used Today

3. Stable Change ( aka Safety Valve) — see Benedict Spinoza, Tractatus-Theologico Politicus 

I believe all aspects of the Eight Values of Free Expression are used in action today. However the Stable Change theory stuck out to me the most. The theory explains that, “It has been suggested that a society in which angry and alienated citizens are allowed to speak their mind, or "vent," will be more stable, as people will be less likely to resort to violence.” I see Stable Change used in action today over social media. For example, with social media being a big part of society, people are able to use various platforms to complain about any kind of problem they have. This is a way for people to feel heard and express their opinions in a non violent way. 

Applying to the Real World

Social media can be a powerful tool for expressing the eight values of expression. By allowing individuals to share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences with a wide audience, social media platforms promote creative expression and freedom of speech. They also enable people to showcase their individuality and authenticity by sharing elements of their personal lives.

The Founding Era

March 20, 2023

 The Founding Era and the Idea of America

It is often the organizations that keep everything in order have the least amount of publicity when it comes to modern news. The Supreme Court is not mentioned nearly as often as congress or the President, yet it ties the documents that our founding fathers created at the seams.

What I learned

What I learned about the Supreme Court was how involved they are in the checks and balances of the government’s system. That they must adhere to a specific process and try to put everything regarding bias to the side. This ensures that the constitution is not violated in cases or laws that are passed. In addition, I learned that they handle 7,000 cases which only amounts to about 100 being reviewed/considered to be brought to trial at the court. 

Takeaway

Reviewing all of the sources lead me to believe that the most important takeaway of the Supreme Court is that they constantly have to keep powers in check, as well as keep the repercussions of certain rulings in mind. The first hearing regarding the subject matter of slavery caused the civil war, or was at least a big factor in the start of it. A lot of students or young adults do not realize the gravity of the decisions being made even now, and the effects that it might have down the line. No one talks about same-sex marriage anymore but back then people had strong opinions on the outcome of the case. For example, the recent overturn of Roe V Wade. These are very important cases that affect the lives of many.

Surprises

The most surprising thing I learned was that the members of the Supreme Court meet after coming to a written conclusion, then they each write arguments trying to sway the others. It makes sense of why it is a part of their process but it is something that is not usually brought up or heard of. Usually it would be the final ruling but the longest part of the system is trying to persuade each other, or writing the majority's reasoning for the outcome of the trial.

The video’s made me appreciate the Supreme Court's involvement in the government a lot more. I only hear about the serious cases every once in a while but it is a full time job that people do for life and they are constantly working in the background. Whether it's sifting through the cases that have been sent in, reviewing old cases, or having to make their argument and persuade others it is a rigorous job. It is also very hard to imagine taking your bias completely away from something that you might feel passionate about for the sake of other members or the people. Trying to remain completely unbiased while sticking to the foundation of a document of such age is a daunting task. Sources like these do a great job of what it is really like to be in their shoes day in and day out. 

 Privacy and Technology

March 18, 2023

Technological innovation has improved faster than our privacy protections. The demand for having the finest technology is at an all time high. This revolution has given society opportunities and benefits like never before. Nowadays, people have access to more convenience, communication, knowledge, etc. As a result, our digital footprints can be traced by the government and large corporations like never before. With that being said, the more technology we surround ourselves with, the more we risk many problems in regards to violation of privacy. 

The Effects 

These issues have affected not only myself, but my family and friends. For example, I receive numerous phone calls a day explaining that I owe thousands of dollars to a bank I am not even associated with for my car. I have repeatedly tried blocking these numbers but the calling never stops. The first times this happened I was extremely confused and caught off guard. Had I not called my father, I could have given the intruders valuable, personal information. 

In addition, a lot of my friends have accounts with different social media platforms. One of them which caused a big problem within my friend group was facebook messenger. My friends were receiving messages from who they thought were their friends. Links were sent to them, and because they saw it was from someone they knew, they all opened the links and their facebook accounts were hacked. I feel as if social media hacking is not as common for my older family members because most of them do not have any accounts. However, my mother, father, and grandparents credit cards have all been hacked and an abundance of money was stolen from them. 

Government Action

    In order to protect privacy, the government should start by improving firewall protection and encryption along with requiring a 2 factor identification system. It should also be illegal for companies to sell data elsewhere. For years, companies have tried to get away with this and it has not only violated users' privacy, but led to an abundance of lawsuits. 

Taking Precautions

    There are small things we can participate in each day to help protect ourselves from invasions of privacy. This includes not answering random numbers through a phone call or text message, completely turning off our technological devices, not clicking on links that we are unaware of, creating strong passwords for accounts, and avoiding sharing/ giving out passwords to anyone. 

My Five Sources

About Me

March 13, 2022

My Top 5 Sources 

    In today's day and age, the internet is more popular and accessible than ever, and anyone can find news everywhere.  From papers, to websites, and now we can find valuable information on our favorite social media platforms. With that being said, current events that are going on can spread extremely quickly. This makes it important for people to ensure that they are informing themselves on various platforms. This avoids an unbiased perspective and guarantees for more truthful stories. When I research new things, I like to make sure the platforms I am using to find out information are credible. I feel it is important to interact with several sources and discuss with other people to form a reasonable perspective. Here are the top five sources I like to use. 

Instagram

    Instagram is one of my favorite applications that I use. It is the perfect platform to upload and share all the videos and photos you want. You are able to keep in touch with friends and show different kinds of activity on posts you come across. Although I use the app to mostly see what my friends are up to, I often find myself scrolling through several accounts that I do not even follow to discover what's new in the world. Instagram is designed to show you more of what you want to see, so it is important to remember that a lot of bias can take place. However, I have still learned a lot of new things through charts, diagrams, comments, and reels. 

Snapchat

    Snapchat is another one of my go to apps. It is the main application I use to communicate with my friends. You are able to snap a picture of what you’re doing and send it to friends, in which they reply back with what they are doing. They are also able to post stories in which all of their friends have access to viewing it. In addition, you are able to subscribe to famous people to get a closer look or what I call a behind the scenes of their life and what is going on. There are also small clips under the title “Discover”. This is basically a news feed. The section provides users with content in the story format from news publishers, also known as publishing partners, such as The Wall Street Journal, ESPN, and other content from influencers for brands.

Tik Tok

    Tik Tok is an application mostly known for funny videos, short skits, and dancing. I have actually been able to find some credible news through this platform. I am able to scroll endlessly and be informed on current pop culture events. Although Tik Tok no longer accepts political ads, it has become a strong influence in political thoughts among young adults. Again, it is important to keep in mind that these kinds of platforms tend to give you content that you want to see or agree with, however, I found the comment section to be very informative towards both sides of a story. 

Youtube

    Youtube is another one of my favorite information sources that I use to seek not only news but anything I want to know/learn about. You can look up any sort of video on any topic and find hundreds of results to inform you on. I am able to find an abundance of answers and information to any topic I want to look up. Another reason for why I love this source is because you can find videos that simplify the content and make it easier for younger adults to get a better understanding of what is going on. 

Google

    When I hear about a new current event, I find myself heading to google to learn more about it. With the internet and social media being so accessible and big in today’s society, I often find myself having a hard time trying to find credible sources on websites such as google. Fortunately, in high school, a lot of my assignments were research papers and my teachers taught us a special acronym called the “CRAAP Test” to verify credibility and narrow down the sources we needed. All in all, finding credible sources on Google may be more difficult, it is incredibly efficient and convenient to have. 

    When I hear about a new current event, I find myself heading to google to learn more about it. With the internet and social media being so accessible and big in today’s society, I often find myself having a hard time trying to find credible sources on websites such as google. Fortunately, in high school, a lot of my assignments were research papers and my teachers taught us a special acronym called the “CRAAP Test” to verify credibility and narrow down the sources we needed. All in all, finding credible sources on Google may be more difficult, it is incredibly efficient and convenient to have.