Hello Hivers, hope your day was well spent...
Part of our fundamental human rights is freedom of speech or freedom of opinion and expression.
What is fundamental human rights? Fundamental human rights are rights that we're entitled to as human beings. It is also a right that is naturally for all human beings regardless of your sex, religion, nationality, language, race, ethnicity, and all other status.
Examples of human rights includes; Right to life, right to personal freedom or liberty, right to work and education, freedom from slavery, freedom of speech or expression and lots more...
But today, we'll be focusing on FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
Freedom of speech simply means being free to express oneself or being free to express ones opinion or idea about a thing without fear of legal action by the government, censorship etc.
Despite all this rights that we have as a citizen of a particular country, are we actually free to express our ourselves, to share our opinion about a thing without being molested and embarrassed by higher authorities. I will say NO.
Especially when it comes to saying the truth, your life might be on the line for that.
Using an occurrence that happened some years back in my country as a CASE STUDY. The popular #ENDPOLICEBRUTALITY, #ENDSARS PROTEST (A youth driven anti-police brutality demonstration)
The youth only came out to voice out about police brutality like unlawful arrest, torture, killings... Saying the government should look critically in the matter by restructuring the police force and permanently end the SPECIAL ANTI ROBBERY SQUAD (SARS).
Because if we're to look at the situation closely, the major duty of SARS are to face squarely anything Robbery case while the police should protect the lives and properties of the general public but reverse is the case. If a police officer or a SARS officer should see you as a guy having Gallas, Afro or dread on your head, you're in serious soup as they would tag you to be a Yahoo boy.
Have not fall their victim for once though maybe due to my church mind dressing and always on low cut. Lol, but I have friends that fell into their hands, it was a very bad experience, there is nothing you can say that would bail you out else you dance to their tune because If you want to claim you know your right, you'll have yourself to be blame.
So, still about the #ENDSARS PROTEST I could remember vividly it happened in the year 2020, October to be precise, the protest started online and later escalated to street protest, thousands of youth gathered at LEKKI TOLL GATE that very day. Their act of expressing themselves freely turned to a Massacre... It's a scenario that can't be forgotten in the history of Nigeria.
There's freedom of speech in my country but you bear the consequence of whatever happens after you might have expressed yourself (O.Y.O) ON YOUR OWN... you're practically on your own especially if it has something to do with the government.
For me I think it should not be, we should just try and manage the so called freedom of speech and control ourselves while expressing our opinions and ideas.
Thanks for reading...