Eight Expressions Value Blog Post
By Zea Hirshberg
Out of the Eight Values of Free Expression, I believe there cannot be just one value that can be deemed the "most important" out of them all. The top three values I have chosen to discuss in this blog today are number four (Individual Self-Fulfillment), number five (Check on Governmental Power), and lastly, number eight (Protect Dissent).
Starting off with value number four, also known as Individual Self-Fulfillment or Self-Actualization. The description of this particular value of free expression allows individuals to express who they are in order to create their own identity. For example, getting a tattoo or dying your hair, to use the example from class. Both of these acts other people may not necessarily like or feel is a way of self-expression but to the individual, it's a way of presenting themself to society. To show who they are. Where others see a tattoo as a stupid mistake of ink being injected into your skin, someone else might view it as a story. To add a personal perspective, I love the idea of getting a tattoo because I see it as a way for not only myself but someone else to use a creative mind and be an artist to show the world who they are through a deeper understanding and meaning.
The second value I picked to write about is number five, Check on Government Power or Watchdog Role. In an overall view, it puts citizens and the press in a check-and-balance system which restrains the government's power. It also gives citizens the right to learn about different methods the government can use to abuse their power and prevents them from ever doing so. Personally, I feel this is completely necessary. The government holds a tremendous amount of power and each of the members as well. All that power can rush to someone's head and make them feel invincible and above the law, which doesn't actually make them "immortal" or "untouchable".
Finally, the last value is the eighth, Protect Dissent. It goes along with the first Amendment and protects individual's right to criticize and call out the government when they do something wrong. It is inarguably every American citizen's rightful duty to keep the government in check. To me, not only does that allow give individuals to be the "police" for the government, but it also says something about the government in general if people need to watch over them.
To finish out this blog, I'd like to end with a concluding thought of mine and that is though I picked a top three values to touch upon, I believe all eight values are important and essential for keeping this country safe and organized. Which value is higher up on the chain can really only be depicted by the situation and someone's personal thoughts and/or feelings but it all comes down to the fact that even if one is removed, it can tear apart the system we've built to maintain order.
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