Individual Self-Fulfillment: Free speech enables individuals to express themselves and thereby create their own identify — and, in the process perhaps, find kindred spirits. Freedom of speech thus becomes an aspect of human dignity, human agency, and autonomy.
This technology-driven world where virtually everyone shares their opinion through an online medium in one way or another has pushed me to believe that Individual Self-Fulfillment is the most important value of Free Expression. Without the ability to post one's opinions on social media or a blog post like I am right now, there would essentially be no point for these mediums to exist. As I scroll through social media it is flooded with opinions, whether they are about certain events happening in the world, a person, a product, or their political views. As humans we desire to voice our opinion on things that matter to us. Without someone being able to share their personal opinions with others it would result in them feeling restricted.
Luckily, through the First Amendment, Americans receive six freedoms, freedom of speech, freedom from religion, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition. The First Amendment serves not only the needs of the polity but the needs of the human spirit–a spirit that demands self-expression. The fulfillment that comes from speech is intertwined with a one's power to think, imagine, and create. Without the ability to speak one's mind, the United States would be a very different place than it is today.
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