When people are losing their lives simply for speaking their minds, it makes me question what freedom really is. This is supposed to be the land of the free… but to what cost? I’m supposed to look forward to my future and what I can bring to the world, but should I fear that if it’s not what they like, my life is considered disposable?
The idea of speaking up has always been a fear of mine. I don’t ever want my opinion to ever make someone feel a certain way. But now, knowing that your life can be taken in an instant for simply speaking your mind, that fear feels even heavier than before. It’s not just about being misunderstood anymore- it’s about surviving. And that’s a terrifying thought.
Freedom of speech, to me, means that you have the right to your opinion and the way you want to express yourself. But right now, it feels really different. It feels like freedom of speech until someone decides that your voice isn’t valuable enough to spare. That’s not freedom. That’s just a coin flip between life and death, depending on who’s listening.
