A Freedom Attacked: Let Yourself Be Heard

By Idaly Mata

Even though freedom of speech is a right clearly stated in our constitution, it seems
as though people who are in charge want to put restrictions on this freedom. I have
seen this multiple times in the lives of others around me, but have only recently had
my own freedom of speech taken from me. This has caused me to really reevaluate
how I will approach certain situations from now on.
Honestly I would not have minded the right of freedom of speech to be revoked
from some people because some people really do say some hateful things that
nobody should hear. Now that my own rights have been infringed upon though, due
to monetary reasons and someones own belief of what they consider decent I will
not stand for any kind of censorship of anyone.
Our speech is one of the very few things we should have complete autonomy over
because it is coming from our own thoughts, using our own voice. When I cant
express something I am thinking and cant share those thoughts that I deemed
important with others, that may share those thoughts, then there is a problem. Just
imagine a world where someone is constantly being silenced by someone else just
for thinking differently. Its not hard, we already can see a world afflicted with
censorship, but doesnt it make you mad? The one thing that we should have
complete control over is also something that someone else can manipulate. This is
so wrong on so many levels.
Had Martin Luther King Jr. been silenced, we would still see an America greatly
divided. Had Susan B. Anthony been silenced, we would still have women being
blatantly treated as second class citizens. Had Harvey Milk been silenced, we would
be no closer to gay rights in this country.
Here is the kicker though, people did try to silence those that have changed our
world for the better. They believed in what they had to say though. They didnt care
that people insulted them. They took in stride the threats against their lives. They
worked hard despite the often unnoticeable rewards. If we could all just be like
these courageous people, then the world would be a much better place for it.
Because freedom of speech means freedom for all, we see a world with equal words
of hate as those of love. Words that come from a loving place however are so much
stronger thus can and do prevail. What can only make a loving movement fail is
someone trying to silence those making the effort. While I do support everyone
being able to say whatever it is that they want, I am completely aware that I wont
agree with everyone. That is why I can just hope that those who are speakers are
also listeners. People may not agree with everyone, but we must respect each
others rights to say anything.
On a national level having strong voices that fight against those that want to keep
them quite is so important, but just as important are the many voices on college
campuses. Such is the case on a Texas university campus where people want to be

able to carry guns on campus. And in return there was a resulting protest on the
same Texas campus of students walking around with dildos visible from their
backpacks because while some students want guns on campus there is a university
regulation against having sex toys on campus that can get a student expelled,
which is absurd.
There was also the voice of the alleged sex assault victim at Columbia, whom
carried her mattress around campus and to her graduation in a personal protest
against her accused rape victim since the university was taking no action to expel
the student. People wanted to shame her into silence, but she persevered.
At universities across the U.S. students are rising up against police brutality that has
been haunting our citizens, especially those of minority descent. No longer wanting
an authority that we did not have any say in appointing, us students are wanting to
stand up to tyranny.
During the Vietnam War students on college campuses across the country united
with their message of wanting the war to stop. Students have gathered in large
numbers to protest war, tuition increases, rape culture, and equality for minorities
and women. Our youth have voices and they are screaming.
Our screaming however is falling on deaf ears. With an administration that is more
concerned with getting funding, keeping face, and sticking with the ideals of a
bygone era, no matter how much the millennial generation wants to make a change
we are being silenced.
If we cant even say whats on our mind just because some people may be offended
or become uncomfortable then what are really doing with our voices? If we allow
people who have their own interest in mind to silence us then we are doing
ourselves a disservice. Taking away a persons voice is the most selfish and
insidious thing you could do to a person that already feels so small and insignificant
in the world. When a voice is sometimes all we have, we need to be heard.