I Value the Freedom to Say my Mind

If I'm in one World where I'm to make a pick from difficult choice like this one, picking between freedom of speech and privacy, I would choose the freedom to say my mind. Communication is a channel, a medium and it's only through this we can make our minds known. A society where freedom of speech is restricted would find it difficult to make progress.

Having freedom to share my mind, thoughts, views and knowledge without fear can contribute to shaping a progressive society. Freedom of speech is all about the ability to challenge what we see is wrong, ask questions and expect an answer through an open dialogue. So many people are fun of airing their speech behind the backs of those that really need to hear these due to fear of suppression, lack of confidence and the end result.

In my former place of work. We had this lady, I will avoid mentioning her name, that worked as PA to the managing director. She had an issue with speaking out where she was supposed to speak but talking to someone she felt she could confide in. That's not what freedom of speech means, it goes beyond just talking.

I don't know what she thought about the job if she won't get another if the MD sacks her but she had something eating her up that she wouldn't tell the man to stop. The truth is that if we can't exercise freedom of speech in matters affecting us individuals, it will be difficult to address matters that will lead to societal growth.

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That lady, I understood her problem was lack of confidence and fear of what the outcome would be. Being a secondary school certificate holder, the man took it as an advantage to pay her a bit higher while molesting her in the office. Sometimes you get to the office and the lady's face will tell you something was wrong alongside the man's cheapish smile.

This lady had another employee she was close to in the office, who was timid like her too that she shared the whole thing with. From that employee, the news got to everyone in the office and we all agreed to talk about it. We told him we want to host a meeting with him and he agreed. He was shocked when we brought up the conversation, he tried all he could to dodge the conversation but few of us that knew it was bad of him to do stood strong on the matter.

He didn't admit the allegations, after a long deliberation, the meeting was dismissed without us knowing he had already made up his mind. At the end of the month, he paid us our salary alongside a sacked letter. Because of the sack letter, we became fast friends. I encouraged her and promised to find something else for her.

In the end, she got a new job. Although the pay wasn't compared to what she was paid at first, she was satisfied with it knowing that her mind was at peace. At least she learnt that speaking up without letting fear of what the end result would be to stand as a barrier is very important.