The high cost of free speech

Near the end of my first online class last month, I was asked about my thoughts on freedom of speech as a blogger.

My answer was near-automatic: Use it or lose it.

As a journalist, a writer, a scholar and an American citizen, I’m passionate about our First Amendment right to free speech. When I have something to say, I share it, usually online.

I believe more and more of us do, whether through blogs or other social media. But we don’t always consider how fortunate we are to have such latitude in our expression.

For example, Iranian journalist and blogger Omid Reza Mirsayafi died in a Tehran prison during a two-and-a-half-year sentence. His crimes: “insulting” government leaders and “publicity against the government.”

Today marks the 1-year anniversary of Mirsayafi’s untimely death. To keep his spirit alive and to keep other bloggers around the world from suffering his fate, his friends founded the March 18 Movement, an organization committed to free speech in every nation. (Twitter: @OR318.)

(I learned about this organization through Esra’a Al Shafei, one of the co-founders. I feel very lucky to have met her through two social media conferences in Birmingham in 2009.)

Clearly, for oppressive regimes and corrupt governments, this is a dangerous idea. Citizens can and should be able to speak out against tyranny (or for it) without persecution, prosecution or fear.

That is not to say that we must not bear responsibility for our words. But the consequences of free speech should not mean death in prison.

Democracy is noisy, uneven, sometimes harsh and uncouth. The loudest ones often win the argument, regardless of the merit of their ideas.

And yet, it is a small price to pay for freedom of speech.

Mirsayafi wrote on his blog in 2006, “I have never been a person who would stoop to self-censoring and will never be. I’d rather not write at all if I have to stop being frank and honest in my words.”

He paid a heavy price for such outspokenness in his country. Let us celebrate our ability to speak out unhindered. Let us remember those who did so and suffered for it.

And let us champion the cause of free speech across all borders. Use it. Don’t lose it.

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