“Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech” (National Archives). Likely the most memorable of the amendments, the First Amendment protects freedom of speech in the United States. However, this power is not always used to its full potential.
Advocacy is a valuable tool for organizations and a prime example of people utilizing their freedom of speech to spread the message of a topic of concern to them.
An example of an organization that employs advocacy is the Red Cross. One advocacy program of the American Red Cross is the International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign (IHL YAC), of which our very own IHL in the Bay is one team! Through monthly events and an online campaign, IHL advocates raise awareness about the rules of armed conflict.
Advocacy through this committee provides a channel through which high schoolers can learn more about IHL. An understanding of IHL can help better understand international relations in general. This is all part of being an informed citizen, especially important for high schoolers who will be new voters in a few years!
This can also help make sense of big political conversations. By taking the time to learn about these topics on our own, it is easier to form personal opinions on issues rather than take the word of political figures.
Especially because the goal of IHL is to protect civilians and regulate the conditions of war, it is an important message to spread, which can be done through advocacy.
Examples (there are lots more!) of how you can exercise your freedom of speech:
Speak about what you care about. This can be through a club, social media, or anything else.
Vote - if and once you can.
Become an IHL YAC advocate!
Freedom of Speech is such a core American value because the American Revolution would not have gone the way it did if they quietly sulked about their taxation conditions. They stood up and fought for what they thought should change, including fighting for their freedom of speech.
Just wanting change does not make change; voicing your opinion and fighting for that change does.
The Founding Fathers ensured our right to freedom of speech would be protected. It is up to us to use it.
Sources:
By IHL in the Bay!
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