Most people think of free speech as an abstract, idealized human right - something that naturally exists in modern democracies.
But the truth is far uglier. Free speech is messy, uncomfortable, and no one is immune to being offended or unsettled by it. No matter how stoic someone claims to be, human nature leans toward censorship - especially by those who have something to hide or fear exposure.
And thatβs exactly why free speech must be actively and relentlessly defended.