Thoughts on the Eight Values of Free Expression
(Feb. 1. 2021): by Julianna Rigoglioso
Eight Values of Free Expression
1. Market Place of Ideas2. Participation in Self- Government
3. Stable Change
4. Individual Self fufillment
5. Check on Governmental Power
6. Promote Tolerance
7. Promote Innovation
8. Protect Dissent
Within The Eight Values of Free Expression, I find that number six, Promote Tolerance, is found evident in our daily lives. In this value, Lee Bollinger emphasizes Freedom of Speech and Extremist Speech. He mentions that Hate Speech will ultimately lead to a more tolerant society. We cannot silence others or their opinions because this would be violating the 1st Amendment. We cannot add our emotions when speaking about the first amendment; as citizens of the United States, we are entitled to our freedom of speech and opinion. When using hate speech, society itself will punish because there are certain norms that are created, certain mannerisms, and morals.
If someone posts a racist or prejudice slur online, the majority of the media and viewers will go after that person for their statement. That person most likely will have a difficult time seeking employment, especially in a prestigious field or with a profitable company. Very few people will respect that person and even with a simple apology, it will not cut it. I have seen this type of online punishment countless times. With social media, users have to be mindful of what they post. After all, it could come back years later and haunt them; especially celebrities, political figures, athletes, CEOS, any kind of person who has made their mark on the world. Because these individuals hold such a title, they are viewed in a different light than the average American citizen. However, this could all come crashing down if one said, did, or supported something that is seen as unjust.
Simply, we do not need to throw people in jail when they say something we don't like: this is what I mean by we can't include our emotions when referring to the First Amendment. More importantly, this is what Bollinger stresses: promoting tolerance. As a society, we have progressed so much that society itself will give out the punishment. Punishments such as social harassment online—make what you said go viral so that your known and judged simply by your one post. Because the person has failed to accept progressivism and violated society's standards of right and wrong, the media will punish them by stopping that specific individual's own progress in their life.
We have seen this with cancel culture; celebrities' old videos, posts, and tweets coming back to haunt them. Now instead of throwing those in jail, let's take a look at how the media punishes those who violate society's morals using hate speech. This is how society promotes tolerance.
Shane Dawson = CANCELED
Shane Dawson, a 32-year-old famous Youtuber, gets
canceled by the media after the circulation of his old posts from when he was in his twenties. Dawson created videos and performed "comedic" skits. In one of his skits, he imitates a black person while wearing blackface. In other videos, he has imitated Mexican people, mocking their stereotype.
About 10 years later, his old posts (he thought were gone) circulate back to trending in the year 2020. He faces the backlash of the media. He says in his apology video (2020), that "I have done a lot of bad things in the past that I hate, that I wish could go away, that I tried to make go away by deleting videos, or untagging my Instagram, literally doing whatever I can to pretend those things didn't happen," he said.
In his video (linked to the side), he apologizes for "all the racism [he] put out on the internet as an adult, not a child," he emphasizes. He was twenty years old when he posted these skits where he plays the stereotypes of Black people, Asian people, and Mexican people: "or pretty much every race," he adds. Aside from his offensive videos mocking different races, he also was called out for joking about pedophilia. In Dawson's defense, he made the claim that he had trauma, issues with his family as a child, and never was taken to therapy until he was an adult. He "took that pain, and turned it into jokes," says Dawson. He admits that this kind of behavior is disgusting and something he is ashamed of.
Now, it is hard for the media and the public—myself included—to ultimately just accept his apology: it will take a lot of time and healing. Months later, in 2021, Dawson has still not used his social platform. Will he ever try to restart his career again? Only time will tell.
Now, I am not saying that what Dawson did or said was right or okay--it definitely was not and I would never support or follow his actions. I will, however, listen to his apology, and not completely label him as a racist or pedophile. I simply don't know, I have never met the man. However, he has had years of fame, and fortune, and hasn't been labeled racist until 2020—when people brought up his old content. I think that the times back then were different, the media and people were as educated as they are now. As time goes on, society's values, morals, and tolerance adapt as well. More people speak up, speak out against what is right and wrong, and society learns. In 2019, he had 23.1 Million subscribers and countless brand deals. After the scandal in 2020, he lost at least 700,000 subscribers. In my opinion, society treated content like this (and this subject of controversy) differently than 10 years ago.
Now, relating back to Promoting Tolerance, society creates its own kind of public punishment; the government does not have the right to throw Dawson in jail for his stupidity and offensiveness. Dawson is not a criminal, but he is considered a disrespectful human being. People who use hate speech can and will get punished without it being a federal arrest or charge. Look at Dawson, he lost brand deals, his fans and followers, probably his friends, and ultimately his monthly income.
Hate speech is an opinion, not a fact. There isn't a set of rules stating what is hurtful to others and what is not. However, it is the individual's job to learn, accept, and educate themselves on what is offensive to certain religions, races, cultures, and chose to respect that. After all, that is what a good and honorable person would do.
