Freedom of speech has carried the burden of both elevating voices as well as suffocating them and has existed parallel to suppression. It was freedom of speech that allowed people to speak up about inequalities and give a voice to the voiceless. Today, however, it is also used to defend hate speech and conspiracy theories.
It walks hand in hand with opinions. It is the “allegedly” to all defamatory statements. Conjuring “freedom of speech” cancels out slander or hurtful comments and gives people hall passes to scream things they would typically whisper.
But the impact of a “freedom of speech” comment lingers like a bad after taste. When it is online or in the public eye, freedom of speech has the unique ability to infringe on someone’s right to feel safe. Freedom of speech exists in this
untouchable grey-zone and we need to revisit it.
My Take: By Marianne Lassonde
