freedom of expression | Learn Liberty

My Experience with Campus Climate at a Liberal Arts College

April 12, 2024 | Post

I was a Bernie Sanders-style progressive when I arrived at my small liberal arts college. I quickly rose through the ranks of various leftist student groups. Then, one key event turned me around.

Tolerance means dealing with ideas without canceling or censoring

January 25, 2024 | Post

Society is always changing, and so are ideas.

One constant, however, is intolerance for different ideas. That intolerance has left its mark, often in blood, on human history. The current iteration of intolerance, though not quite bloody, is “cancel culture.”

Meet the fearless middle schooler who dared to wear the Gadsden flag in class

December 13, 2023 | Post

In late August 2023, middle schooler, Jaiden Rodriguez, was removed from class over a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack.

This was in defiance of the First Amendment’s protection of free speech, which has long been deemed fully applicable to publicly funded schools by the U.S. Supreme Court.

But First Amendment rights did not mean this was the end of the story.

The Iranian dictatorship does not deserve to chair the Human Rights Council

December 11, 2023 | Post

A government that quashes open discourse and stifles diverse perspectives — as the Iranian dictatorship does — is completely ill-suited to lead discussions on social issues and human rights on the international stage.

What Jordan Peterson’s failed court appeal says about freedom of expression in Canada

August 31, 2023 | Post

In a recent legal development that has ignited debates about the intersection of freedom of expression and professional obligations, former University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson’s court appeal has been denied. What does this development tell us about freedom of expression in Canada?

A history of free speech in America

June 8, 2023 | Post

The history of free speech in the United States is a complex and fascinating topic, deeply rooted in the nation’s founding principles. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791, protects the right to free speech, along with freedom of religion, the press, assembly, and petition.

An assault on anonymity: the consequences of Vietnam’s new social media policy

June 2, 2023 | Post

In Vietnam, a new regulation will take effect by January 2024 requiring all social media users to verify their identities in order to use online platforms. This move is a blatant violation of the right to free expression and privacy.

Silencing dissent: the dangerous precedent set by Tennessee’s partisan expulsions

April 10, 2023 | Post

In a troubling display of political retribution, two Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee, Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, were recently expelled by the Republican supermajority in the Tennessee House for violating decorum rules. Their transgression? Participating in a protest on the House floor advocating for gun control in the wake of a tragic school shooting in Nashville. This vote marked the first time in Tennessee’s history that expulsion has been wielded as a partisan weapon against lawmakers on the other side of the aisle.

The Misuse of Social Media Act: a threat to freedom of expression in Uganda

February 27, 2023 | Post

The provisions in the Misuse of Social Media Act passed by Uganda’s Parliament are highly restrictive and pose a direct threat to digital freedom. Here’s a quick breakdown of how and why…

National Security Law: the crackdown on democracy and freedom in Hong Kong

January 5, 2023 | Post

China’s National Security Law has reduced Hong Kong’s autonomy and made it easier for the CCP regime to punish pro-democracy activists.

Are major tech companies stifling free speech?

January 5, 2023 | Post

Technological advances have made it much easier for individuals to express themselves, but are major tech companies now stifling free speech?

Is Elon Musk really a friend of free speech?

December 16, 2022 | Post

On December 15, 2022, under Elon Musk, Twitter suspended several prominent journalists’ accounts from publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CNN, among others.

The libertarian position on gay marriage: a matter of expression?

December 15, 2022 | Post

While it would be unfair to say that libertarians hold some kind of monopoly over the fight for gay marriage, but there is no denying the great contribution made by libertarian logic to this movement. Marriage is individual expression; it is not the faculty of anyone else to restrict it.

Truth exists – and disagreement helps us reach it

September 23, 2022 | Post

When you arrive at “we think differently, and that is OK” – all interaction stops. Nobody will convince anyone of anything. Nobody is searching for answers. They simply do not want to get their feelings hurt, so they stop thinking about reality altogether. We must not place comfort above truth.

Promoting false narratives doesn’t promote liberty

August 26, 2022 | Post

The message of liberty is too important to be diluted with lies. When we propagate false narratives that appear to help us achieve our goals, we are little better than those who peddle outright lies to sell their own agenda.

Speak up! Overcoming the anxiety of free speech on campus

August 11, 2022 | Post

Do not let fear of being different or the assumption of ‘cancel culture’ define you or your college experience. You are entitled as much as anyone one else to express your view in a courteous and intelligent way; let the chips fall where they may.

Pro-liberty discourse needs to be practical and relatable

July 14, 2022 | Post

Once again, Americans are at each other’s throats, ready to fight over extremely partisan lines. Typically, this opens opportunities for the liberty movement, but our discourse has its own problems