Freedom of Speech vs. Respect
With a summer full of corona graphs and scrapped plans, it is easy for the social upheaval of our time to be pushed to the background (we can only take so much stress after all). For those of us who study medicine and healthcare, it is vital even now that we check our privilege and look beyond trends to recognize the need for both freedom and respect.
privilege - a right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a person or group
Equal rights are not a trend - they are a lifestyle. They are the culmination of social benchmarks based upon freedom, empathy, active listening, critical thinking, self-awareness, and respect.
respect - due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others
In both political debate from centuries ago and current international guidelines (as the Universal Declarations of Human Rights is not legally binding), freedom of speech is beneficial if not required to create a civilized society.
What does freedom of speech actually mean?
freedom of speech - the power or right to express one's opinions without censorship, restraint, or legal penalty.
“The object of this Essay is to assert one very simple principle […] That principle is, that the sole end for which mankind are warranted, individually or collectively, in interfering with the liberty of action of any of their number, is self- protection. That the only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any number of a civilized community, against [their] will, is to prevent harm to others.”
John Stuart Mill, page 6 in the introduction to On Liberty, issue 67.
Article 19 of the Universal Declarations of Human Rights states that “everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference” and that “everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice. ”
The version of Article 19 in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights later amends this by stating that “The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect for the rights or reputations of others;
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals."
Freedom of speech is not endless as expression should not infringe on another's rights. One of these rights is the right to dignity.
dignity - the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect.
So where, exactly, should one draw the line between freedom of speech and respect when they seem to be in opposition with dignity being the center of the beam weighing these two against each other?
Human Dignity and Liberty - A General Layout
Both human dignity and liberty are vague constitutional terms that occupy legal scholars around the world […]. Each legal system fills these concepts with different content, and even within each legal system views differ as to the exact meaning that should be ascribed to these terms. This vagueness is typical when abbreviations such as “dignity,” “liberty,” “equality,” and other similar concepts are used to describe pivotal terminology that usually entails an ideological interpretation. Nonetheless, these abbreviations are useful and necessary for conducting meaningful discussions on fundamental issues. ”
Guy E. Carmi, Dignity Versus Liberty: The Two Western Cultures of Free Speech
In truth, there is no One True Answer of where lines should be drawn.
What we can do is make a scale for ourselves to find the balance between concepts -
Acknowledgment of our privilege versus empathy for those who struggle
Acknowledgment of our struggles versus equality, equity, or justice in privilege
Respect for others and tolerance versus having healthy boundaries
Respect for ourselves versus social norms and demands
Freedom of speech and expression versus discrimination
Discrimination versus dignity
And so on….
The only constant thing in life is change, so re-evaluation as you go through life is the first step to ensure that you retain discernment without becoming prejudiced.
👁