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Free Speech and The Handmaid’s Tale Discussion
The freedom of speech is one of the fundamental universal rights that should be upheld at all times for liberal citizens in a liberal country. However, the right of free speech is normally controversial in both the law or in the application in different countries. In the United States the controversy is in the application of free speech laws, with people overusing the privilege. However, in the dystopian Republic of Gilead in the book The Handmaid’s Tale, there is hardly any freedom of speech. In light of this comparison, this discussion seeks to understand what the free speech concept should be. The discussion will illustrate the importance of free speech and the need for the responsible use the freedom.
Free speech is important, but it should not be used by citizens to the detriment of others. The case of a man threatening his wife or confederate flag illustrates the irresponsible use of free speech. The dystopia nation of Gilead in the book shows how freedom can be denied irresponsibly by the authorities and affects both men and women (Atwoood 1). Therefore, in nations where governments honor free speech laws, citizens must responsibly use it. The controversy in the United States shows a society that is taking existence of free speech for granted. The debate about free speech in America shows lack of responsibility by citizens to adore freedom that is lacking in other countries.
Free speech should exist in the world to create responsible governance that promotes human rights. The book on the Gilead Republic teaches the world that free speech should exist in a coherent society that does not risk plunging into dystopia. The dystopian society reflects how the real world can turn to if the rights and privacy of the population are not considered in the world today (Scatton 1). In this case, free speech should be provided to the society to promote the airing of issues that lead to a dystopian society. The lack of free speech in the Republic of Gilead gets worse to the extent that revolutionists get to overthrow the government and suspend the constitution (Scatton 1).
The freedom of speech should be universal and cut across the divide of people in a country and should not favor one faction or another. The problem or controversy with the freedom of speech is that citizens sometimes are not responsible about the freedom that comes along with free speech. A perfect example is the debate over confederate flag, where the right to fly it and right to voice an opinion over it are in play (Heath 1). The controversy comes where some people want to fly it at the psychological agony of others. This shows that some people are not responsible of the situation by failing to consider the historical effect of the flag.
Free speech is important for governance, as its importance is mostly realized when it is denied. People realize the need for free speech when they are not allowed to practice the basic freedom as a universal right. The book The Handmaid’s Tale perfectly paints a picture of how the situation would be if the United States citizens are deprived the free speech right. In the Republic of Gilead, the nation is under the theocracy of military dictatorship, where ordinary citizens have no freedom of speech (Atwood 1). As much as they are against the dictatorial government, they cannot talk about it because of the level of freedom gagging that is in the state. This indicates the importance of free speech, compared to countries that enjoy freedom of speech a fundamental human right.
Free speech should give people a chance to air their views in a civil manner that does not affect other citizens as well as the state. The level of free speech in America is high, and gives people the freedom to speak without being gagged (Heath 1). However, where free speech is denied, people result in uncivil ways that lead to dictatorship. The situation in the Republic of Gilead illustrates the uncivilized extents of using violence and dictatorship to turn the society into a dystopia (Scatton 1). This makes the book a relevant dystopian literature that foreshadows the effect of the current trends in the future (Lore 1). Therefore, nations should seek to build governments on the basis of human rights and promotion of free speech other than on state bureaucracy (Atwood 1).
The existence of free speech is an important aspect of the modern world because it is a fundamental human right. Free speech should therefore be allowed to all citizens without any discrimination on any basis. However, freedom of speech should be applied responsibly by both the state and the citizens to ensure that no party uses the free speech laws at the expense of the other. At the same time, free speech should not be taken for granted in the society to disregard its importance in a democratic country. This shows that free speech is important for a country, but should be upheld responsibly.
Works Cited
Atwood, Margaret. Haunted by The Handmaid’s Tale. Web, Accessed, August 1, 2015, <http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jan/20/handmaids-tale-margaret-atwood>
Heath, Emily. On Freedom Of Speech: What It Does And Does Not Mean. Web, Accessed, August 1, 2015, <http://emilycheath.com/2015/07/06/on-freedom-of-speech-what-it-does-and-does-not-mean>
Lore, Olden. Is “Historical Accuracy” a Good Defense of Patriarchal Societies in Fantasy Fiction? Web, Accessed, August 1, 2015, <http://www.themarysue.com/sexism-in-historical-fantasy>
Scatton, Kristen. Web, 9 Reasons ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Is As Relevant As Ever, 30 Years Later, Accessed, August 1, 2015, <http://www.bustle.com/articles/73125-9-reasons-the-handmaids-tale-is-as-relevant-as-ever-30-years-later>