The government is doing a horrible job at defending our freedom of speech and we need to do something about it. There are several recent offenses that put our core freedom at risk.
When the Constitution and Bill of Rights were created, the freedom of speech, press, and religion were added to the First Amendment for a reason. Without these fundamental rights, we as Americans are unable to express ourselves earnestly and relay vital information — knowledge — to one another.
Here are two examples of government-led offenses on free speech:
In August, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), under the leadership of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., fired Susan Monarez from her position as the director of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
There are many reports that she was let go from her position due to disagreement with Kennedy on many issues.
Reported reasons of disagreement include policies regarding vaccinations, particularly COVID-19 vaccines, and the firing of some of her staff. She allegedly “failed to comply” with such demands.
Monarez was very open about these disagreements, speaking out against them. It was ultimately her disagreement with Kennedy that was the reason for her firing.
This is an obvious suppression of her opinion. Her role is to make policies regarding healthcare that she believes are best for the nation, and if speaking against what she believes is wrong results in the loss of her job, then the future of America is not in good hands.
Monarez is just one of many recent acts of government-led speech suppression.
The latest of these examples includes none other than the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel.
Kimmel was known as a major and outspoken critic of President Donald Trump as well as his MAGA affiliates.
In response to the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, Kimmel said during his Monday monologue, “The MAGA Gang [is] desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”
His comment is his own view on the situation—his beliefs on how the Trump administration is handling the identity of the shooter.
Like any other American citizen, Kimmel should have the right to express his thoughts and feelings regarding a drastic and sudden event.
Instead of the comment that he made being managed in a way that respects his right to speech, his show was briefly pulled from air.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman, Brendan Carr, pressured Kimmel’s network and the affiliates that carry his show. Carr has openly praised President Trump in his efforts to reshape the American media. Carr was also appointed as the FCC chairman by President Trump.
The state of our nation asks us to ponder the question: What does our future as a country look like?
If we continue down this path where opinions are silenced left and right from both parties, the most vital freedom to our nation as a people will begin to fade. The essence of speech and freedom will cease to exist. We will begin to see the dissolution of whatever unity existed.
The oppression of speech is incredibly ignorant and dangerous to the future of this country. There must be a change if we are to survive as a united state.
