Our Basic Right - Freedom of Speech

The word ‘Freedom’ gives you a calm and relaxing feeling. When I think of this word, I see a sweet bird flying in air who makes a care-free flight perceiving this sky is wholly her own property. Being human beings, we own a right of freedom; may it be the freedom to choose our food and clothes or the freedom of speech and exercise. Although we have freedom to do what we want but it is limited by certain factors. I can walk on the walking track in a park revolving a stick in a round circle. My limit of revolving the stick ends when the boundary of other fellow starts who is also using the same track.

An institution which has shown a drastic boom in the society in recent times is the institution of Media and Communications. Considering the scenario of our country 20 years back when there is just one state owned television network; we could not assume and expect the transparent and objective coverage of events and happenings. Here, I will not talk about the pros and cons of the contemporary media industry and the negative impact of its competitive environment on the society. Regardless of all the cons, one thing we all undisputedly admit that the freedom of media has strengthened the uninterrupted flow of information with the depiction of ‘third’ side of the story as well along with the existing two sides.

Earlier there were broadly two media of mass communications: Print media and Electronic media. In both of the cases, one structural organization is required to communicate the messages to the audience. And most of all the source of the message is also known and defined; resulting in the sense of accountability at the end of reporting source. Besides multiple blessings of internet; now we have another means of communication which is online media or widely known as social media where any unknown person could also be a source of communication, meaning extremely low level of credibility and the lack of accountability while disseminating the information. And with this social media, anybody can communicate with the mass audience and also mislead the people by the misinterpretation and manipulation of facts. The most critical part is that the source remains unknown and hidden. Furthermore, this type of media gives excessive freedom of the irresponsible and immature individuals as well who misuse this right by creating nuisance for others.

The most recent example of wrong use of freedom is the facebook scandal. I cannot believe that anybody could hurt the sacred religious feelings of second largest world population. Is this the teaching of liberalism ideology that west claims every time? No, this is not liberalism; rather it is the display of narrow-mindedness and severe feelings of scare and hatred for Muslims. All such insane and vicious actions show that these people are scared of Muslims and their religion Islam and they are unable to overcome this fear that makes them use these unfair means.

There is no such thing as ‘absolute’ in this world. Similarly, nobody in this world can claim to exercise absolute freedom. Freedom comes with responsibility. When you exercise your right, you have to make sure that other people are not getting affected by it. And if you cannot use your right with responsibility; causing disturbance for other people of the society then you don’t deserve to use your right and you should abandon it right there.