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Freedom of Speech
Freedom of speech is often seen as the ability to say anything you think. Freedom of speech should include respecting the other person with your argument.
That freedom is not insulting the other person or threatening them with death. Freedom without more would constitute an anarchical society, where everyone can call each other rotten fish.
Freedom of speech in the democratic context is that you also listen to the other. That the smaller groups should also be heard and not that only the majority is speaking.
Freedom of speech is an important thing. It admittedly needs to be channeled here and there, perhaps? That freedom of speech has been given a free pass by social media, through which one may express anything that comes to mind without any inhibition. Freedom of speech should be taught. Just like social intercourse in everyday life.
Freedom of speech should be honored as a great asset in society. It should also be shaped and respected. It should be included as something one learns in social intercourse with fellow human beings. Arguments may well be sharp or critical but should not degenerate into wild swearing.
Politics should set an example for this. Universities, colleges and high schools should include that in their curriculum, how to deal with that, with that freedom. I think even in elementary schools.
It should be the stone in the pond whose ripple eventually ripples through family life, teaching children at home how to deal with that freedom of speech.
However, that approach’s complexity might cause significant societal consequences. Can society still take these steps?
Freedom and speech should not be opposed to each other but should respect each other!
