FREEDOM OF SPEECH

Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak without and/or limitation. The synonymous
term freedom of expression is sometimes used to indicate not only freedom of verbal speech
but any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the
medium used. In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country and
the right is commonly subject to limitations, such as on hate speech.

The right to freedom of speech is recognized as a human right under Article 19 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Right and recognized in international human right law in the
International Covenant on Civil and political Rights (ICCPR). The ICCPR recognizes the
right to freedom of speech as "the right to hold opinions without interference. Everyone shall
have the right to freedom of expression". Furthermore freedom of speech is recognized in
European, inter-American and African regional human rights law.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech

Freedom of expression is one of the most fundamental rights that individuals enjoy. It
is fundamental to the existence of democracy and the respect of human dignity. It is also one
of the most dangerous rights, because freedom of expression means the freedom to express
one's discontent with the status quo and the desire to change it. As such, it is one of the most
threatened rights, with governments - and even human rights groups - all over the world
constantly trying to curtail it.

The United States, probably like no other nation, has recognized the importance of
freedom of expression to safeguard democracy and grow as a nation. However, this does not
mean there are no efforts to try to curtail it. The internet has often been the target of this
efforts, as it provides practically everyone with the ability to communicate their ideas to wide
audiences and escapes the ability of the state to control it.( http://www.derechos.org/human-
rights/speech/)

Freedom of speech or freedom of expression is a basic human right and its value could
never be underestimated. Freedom of speech to a certain degree defines the level of creativity
and achievement in a society. Without freedom of speech, the people’s creativity and ability
to solve problems are stifled. If the freedom to receive and give input is limited then it would
be hard to discuss and know fully issues and options, limiting views and choices. Freedom of
speech, therefore, is a strong indicator of a society’s progress.

Freedom of expression is also strongly correlated to freedom of press. Freedom of

press is merely the extension of freedom of speech to written and printed materials. The First
Amendment stated "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
press."

Freedom of speech, being a basic civil right, is very essential in preserving peace and
order. Without free speech, it would be hard to understand and resolve differences of opinion.
Communication is a very important tool particularly in maintaining international diplomacy
where differences of beliefs, cultures and religion come into play. This particularly true in the
United States where maintaining a superpower status means delineating policies to
neighboring countries.

Freedom of speech means the ability to express opinions and ideas without
impediments particularly the threat of being punished for doing so. The works of great men in
the past made it possible to enjoy freedom of speech now. Much of the current idea of free
speech comes from the principles of freedom of press and freedom of religion which evolved
in England in the seventeenth century.
(http://peacesecurity.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_is_freedom_of_speech)
THE IMPORTANT FREEDOM OF SPEECH

There are several point thathave been discover why freedom of speech is so important
to every single country in this world. Firstly, It is because no country can get justice without
the freedom of speech. We have all heard of the phrase that 'it's a free country; we could say
whatever we want.' Freedom of speech is probably one of the most important civil liberties in
a democratic society. Freedom of speech entitles the citizen to say or write whatever is there
in their minds. This means that people have the right to openly criticise the government or
other powerful institutions of their country. However there are various laws that limit his
liberty. There are laws which censor videos cinema theatre and magazines.

Today however the media has really sidestepped these pressures and the media has
more freedom then the individual alone. People have been able to get their voice across the
globe .In a lot of countries the government has the control over official information various
acts such as human rights act 1998 and international human rights law guarantee freedom of
speech as a fundamental right of being a human being. These changes show that freedom of
speech has become increasingly important particularly in the west .It is a sign of growing
economies.

Secondly, it promotes ideas that are important in uncovering the truth and other noble
pursuits. When one talks of free speech, one is often reminded of important people in history
who used the right to speak to advance their ideas which were thought to be radical during
their time. Who could forget Patrick Henry’s immortal speech “Give Me Liberty or Give me
Death”? Another important example would be Martin Luther King whose famous speech “I
Have a Dream” on promotion of civil rights still evokes powerful emotions even to this day.

Thirdly, to help people in on everything or giving them more opportunity for life. This
is because everyone deserve what they want to get when they give hundred percent of afford
toward their goal what they want. So, if some individual try to sabotage the person who try to
get what thet want. So because of that they speak up what they want to speak because of they
want to get their own right.
THE EFFECT FREEDOM OF SPEECH

The negative effect of the freedom can be look in two side, which is toward
government and the Malaysian. Firstly we look at the towards the Malaysian, this is because
everybody deserve to know what actually happen, what are the truth behind all this game
which is every single time happen in our country. If they do not know what happen behind all
this thing so they will being cheated all of time, until when they must be hide to the public
with all the hidden agenda which cannot give a benefit to the public. So, the public will not
satisfied with all this thing and everybody will do the demonstrate along the road or what so
ever because of they want to show that they protest to all parties. This is because the
Malaysian is the one who will developed our country in a future, so if they do not want to
cooperate with the goverment because of they want to against they regulation that have been
made.

Then, all the things that happen in the government matters will be ruin and will give
alot of effect to the country, to the citizen, and at the same time tour country will attract all the
country to every each of country and they will give alot if bad perception toward our country.
This is because of the misunderstanding that have been published at the public, then they
public give wrong inpretation towards what have been done. In addition, the public will loose
their trusted to the goverment because of everybody in the government have their own
agenda, and they have being manipulated everyone. The fact is we can look what happen right
now toward our country. It slowly happen and it is not possible if it will getting worse to the
future.