There are 8 total values of free expression. These values are what define freedom of speech. However, when something goes wrong and drama starts, freedom of speech must be debated. Thankfully, freedom of speech is a powerful right not seen in other countries. Speech theories define what is and isn't speech. I believe the most important one on the list is the Marketplace of Ideas, or discovery of truth. Here's why I think it's the most important.
The Marketplace of Ideas theory states when lies are pitted against the truth, the truth would win, stronger than it was before. Information can be more valuable than gold, and at the same time, more destructive than a bomb. The wise Mark Twain once said "A lie can travel half way around the world before the truth laces up its boots." This could not be more accurate when you look at the world today. Thanks to platforms like twitter, people are more free than ever to spread around all sorts of information, both true and false. Here's an example of what happens when the truth comes too late.
It's no secret that the coronavirus changed the world in a matter of months, and it's also a fact that it originated in China. The Chinese government tried to hide the actual numbers. It wasn't until long after the lockdown when the actual numbers were revealed. Had China acted responsibly and told the truth about the numbers, went on lockdown immediately, and not silenced anybody who spoke out against them, the world would've been much better prepared. It's also important to note that this lie would've never succeeded in America, where our 1st amendment and free speech rights prevent the government from silencing people.
This of course was not the only lie out there. There were also lies about the cause like 5g towers. This is easily proven false when you do the research. For example, 5g towers existed long before the pandemic started, and the virus spread to thousands in places like Israel, where no towers were known to have been constructed. This is why the Marketplace of Ideas theory is so important. The lies about the virus drew more attention to the issue in an effort to find the truth. That is why I think it's so important to keep information truthful in this world where one influential person can cause a widespread conspiracy.
In conclusion, information is both precious and dangerous. It can make or break peoples lives. The world is full of lies and deceit. If we loose our ability to communicate valid information, we could end up with something much worse than this pandemic. All we can hope for is to keep the facts straight so that we know what to do in the future. We need to make sure the truth always wins.
Work Cited
Wong, Edward, Barnes, Julian, Youngs Zolan, (Aug 19, 2020) Local Officails in China Hid Coronavirus Dangers From Beijing, U.S. Agencies Find. cited from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/world/asia/china-coronavirus-beijing-trump.html
Tucker, Nati (Aug 18, 20) A Little Late, Israel is Finally Poised to Enter the 5G Mobile Era. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/business/.premium-a-little-late-israel-is-finally-poised-to-enter-the-5g-mobile-era-1.9083813
(statistics for cases) https://news.google.com/covid19/map?hl=en-US&mid=%2Fm%2F03spz&gl=US&ceid=US%3Aen
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