By Aly Kamadia, Editor-In-Chief, iDose

You don’t need to be an American to love some of the country’s political culture.

Part of that culture includes the freedom of speech.

The US grants its citizens so much flexibility in exercising that right that many forms of hate speech are perfectly legal.

Over the centuries, many philosophers and intellectuals have forcefully argued that free speech is a pillar to any society that considers itself just.

It is a value that in theory, shatters the lies of authoritarian monarchs, unmasks the deceit of false prophets (religious and secular), exposes broadcast media ‘journalists’ for the thoughtless gossipers many tend to be, and reveals the true nature of corrupt politicians – not sparing those in Western democracies, whose allegiances all too often bow down to the mighty American dollar.

That sacred value of free speech is currently being threatened on multiple fronts.

That a handful of unaccountable tech giants can censor a large amount of public discourse was true before iDose was launched (in 2019).

As was the news industry’s long-term future, which still remains in peril.

Despite the great investigative journalism that can be found in some of the country’s finest newspapers (journalism which admittedly, is often found alongside propaganda and gossip), I have yet to see any solutions that have been implemented for the noble task of investigative journalism.

And at the one place that is the very symbol of free speech and inquiry, and that I once dreamt of teaching at (before deciding not to pursue a PhD), the contemporary University is literally under siege. 

Some cowardly University “leaders” are begging the police to silence American students who are standing up to President Biden. Many students refuse to acquiesce and stay silent in the face of an American foreign policy that is sponsoring the killing and torture (e.g., with the use of starvation) of thousands of innocent Palestinian women and children.

These students remind us that only a fool would reduce an entire country’s character to that of its political elites.

And on the day of this writing, it is being reported that the International Criminal Court will soon announce criminal charges against Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and some of his fanatic friends (and some members of Hamas).

This won’t lead to any serious accountability for Netanyahu or his cronies. Unlike the fantasy world that liberal elites lecture citizens about (sometimes, while virtually stealing their taxpayer dollars at the same time), there is no ‘rule of law’ for certain members in society.

Though the actions of the International Criminal Court, and the courage of protestors around the world have kept the Israel-Palestine story alive in peoples’ minds for more than half a year.

Thus while free speech continues to be under severe threat, we mustn’t forget its noble triumphs.

Aly Kamadia

Editor-In-Chief, iDose

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