Freedom of speech is not only a God-given right and was protected as such in 1791 with the ratification of the Bill of Rights, it also has been declared a fundamental human right by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly as set forth in the UN’s 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and formally memorialized as a UN Official Document.
America was ahead of its time. It took member states of the UN nearly 150 years before acknowledging that all people are “endowed with reason and conscience” and further recognized the core principles and God-given rights, inalienable and essential to overcome tyranny and oppression: life, liberty, dignity, fairness and equality under the law.
Freedom of speech is so treasured by rational decent societies and free-thinking citizens of the world that declaring the importance of this freedom and God-given human right was placed in the Preamble of the UDHR, as well as Article 19, which states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
For America and all other civilized nations, freedom of speech serves as a primary function to ensure a successful and effective system of self-governance – a Constitutional Republic. It is necessary to advance meritorious ideas, improve the use of reason and rational thinking, encourage fair and fearless debate, promote public discussion, guarantee accountability and ultimately guide an informed citizenship and rational society towards meaningful participation in community and government.
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