Local opinion: Free speech right demonstrated in Arizona Daily Star's letters to the editor

The names Evelyn Beatrice Hall and Francois-Marie Arouet may not mean anything to most people, but these two had brought to the foreground an emphasis on the cherished gift of free speech. Evelyn Beatrice Hall, a twentieth-century English author, wrote two biographies on Francois-Marie Arouet, an eighteenth-century French author best known as Voltaire. In her second book on Voltaire, “Friends of Voltaire,” she wrote the phrase, often misattributed to Voltaire, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Hall was attempting to illustrate that Voltaire was a staunch advocate for freedom of speech, a passion that had sent him to prison several times for his public expressions against the authorities.

This concept of speaking freely without retribution or repercussions is considered a sacred right by those who cherish the principles of democracy. To sacrifice in order to preserve freedom of speech, as Voltaire so demonstrated, is clearly carried out today in the United States by the brave men and women in our Armed Forces who will and have put their lives on the line to not only preserve this precious right but to protect and assure its continued existence, a pattern that has existed for 250 years.

In viewing this aspect of our liberties in today’s context, and in keeping with the spirit of Voltaire, it can be noted that the epitome of free speech is being demonstrated right here in the Arizona Daily Star newspaper. Every day, the readers are exposed to the thoughts, comments and opinions of fellow Tucsonans through the Letters to the Editor feature. In this gathering of voices, the ability to express satisfaction or dissatisfaction with our leaders, be they national or local, can often be found. Other writers take on institutions and legislative decisions. And still others voice their thoughts on the expressions of others. Some of the writings can be quite harsh at times, but never vulgar or defamatory. Each letter is a shining example of the ability to speak freely without the fear of retaliation or prosecution.

But there is a danger surrounding this open display of free expression. Perhaps it’s because we citizens of this free society have become a bit spoiled with our rights and liberties. It is possible that we can and most likely have been taking this part of our life for granted. Because there isn’t any repercussions attributed to our expressions, except for libel, slander and defamation, we go about our daily lives letting others know how we feel about any matter and can be quite vehement about our leaders and those in high places. We don’t stop to consider just how fortunate we are in being able to speak freely without negative consequences. It is not like that in many other places in the world.

One of the beauties regarding the Letters to the Editor section in the newspaper is that it provides a public, open forum for anybody regardless of status or position in the community. The ability for the public to express their opinions and concerns without censure or repercussions is a hallmark feature of a free society. Take that away, and one of the pillars of a vibrant democracy is critically weakened if not damaged beyond repair. It would appear, then, that it is incumbent upon every member of this society to strive to protect our right to free speech and the right to express our opinions in an open forum like the letters in the newspaper.

The means for that protection is embedded in the very fabric of our democracy. It comes with our ability to choose our leaders. And once chosen, we charge those whom we have elected to not only maintain our right to free speech but to defend all attacks against its very essence. As long as we have a free press, we will have letters. And as long as we have letters, we can be assured that the public — we the people — will hold those leaders accountable, to assure, if necessary, in Voltaire’s manner, that they would “defend to the death your right to say it.”