Sample English Paper on Freedom of Speech
Introduction
The right to freedom of speech or need to express and share information concerning current events varies across global nations. Across the United States, citizens are awarded immense amount of opportunities to express themselves and the freedom of speech is used to discover and share information. Therefore, they can speak about different issues without fear, even if the subject matter is likely to result in negative repercussions. Several global nations, however, do not share the United States ideals of liberty, particularly about the freedom of speech. The Middle East represents the global nations that have taken great strides to oppress people who make attempts to report current events affecting their lives within the borders. For example, Egypt recently confiscated newspapers in order to censor specific political articles. Iran, in its turn, imprisoned American journalists as they practiced freedom of speech in a country that does not offer equal liberties on this subject matter (O’Steen 1). This report will, therefore, compare freedom of speech in the United States and the Middle East.
Comparing Freedom of Speech in the United States and the Middle East
Americans have been fortunate as the democracy provides them with unlimited freedom of speech. The Middle East, however, is stark in its policy of oppressing the citizens by hindering them from discussing how social, economic, and political aspects affect their lives. Thus, the United States, unlike the Middle East, presents the freedom of speech as a human right that ought to be maintained in a free state. Americans have the tendency to take pride on the amount of liberty the country provides them with concerning the freedom of speech or expression. The freedom of speech developed after the Founding Fathers strived and set the American Standards for freedom by creating the United States Constitution. The Constitution outlines fundamental rights Americans as human beings ought to be awarded as they live their lives by applying them on a day-to-day basis. Thus, through the first amendment, the Constitution states that the Congress should not make laws abridging freedom of expression or speech, the freedom of press and the right for Americans to assemble peacefully and consult for their common good. The first amendment, therefore, protects peoples’ rights to express their opinions and feelings through publication and dissemination of information without the government interfering, constraining and prosecuting them (O’Steen 1).
On the other hand, the freedom of speech in the Middle East is limited. For example, moderate Arab countries in the region take advantage of their special relationship with United States to settle political scores. They restrain their citizens’ freedom of speech by ensuring that they do not express their feelings, opinions, and ideas about the subject matter. Thus, the governmental authorities in the region have been deeply and widely forcing their own people including politicians and journalists not to speak, publish or disseminate information freely. Moreover, they have implemented laws which can be applied to punish individuals defying the measures implemented to restrict freedom of speech and press. Consequently, several people in the Middle East were accused of criminalization of defamation and prosecuted for expressing their freedom of expression or speech (Kuttab 1).
Opinion
Freedom of expression, speech and press is a subject matter that can truly affect the state of the nation and the world at large. As a result, the United States is often recognized as the best nation to live in as it allows its citizens to report and publish opinions and ideas that influence their lives on a daily basis. The Middle East, however, is identified as a region hindering and restraining citizens from sharing their ideas and opinions on topics deemed too crude and inappropriate. It is also recognized for punishing foreigners, especially journalists who practice freedom of speech in the region. In conclusion, the best approach for each global nation, especially within the Middle East, is to allow citizens to speak and write as they wish. Thus, the Middle East should let its citizens make their own decisions and practice the power of influencing social, economic and political aspects affecting their lives currently and in future.
Works Cited
Kuttab, Daoud. “More Freedom of Expression for the Middle East”. Aljazeera.com, 2016, aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/03/freedom-expression-middle-east-160315080958029.html. Accessed 9 March 2017.
O’Steen, Fran. “Freedom of Expression: America v. the World”. manshipmassmedia, 2014, manshipmassmedia.wordpress.com/2014/11/14/freedom-of-expression-america-v-the-world/. Accessed 9 March 2017.