One of the Noblest Pillars of Life in Society
Freedom of expression is one of the noblest pillars of life in society, and it reveals its true greatness not in moments of comfortable consensus, but precisely in times of disagreement. Defending speech when it affirms our own convictions is an easy task. Defending it when it unsettles, provokes, or contradicts requires character, intellectual maturity, and a genuine commitment to freedom.
A society that only tolerates convenient opinions is not truly free. At best, it is organized according to standards of conformity. Freedom of expression exists in its fullness only when citizens are able to express their thoughts without fear of retaliation, social ostracism, or moral punishment, provided that the law and public order are respected. It is a right inherent to human dignity, not a gracious concession granted by political or cultural power.
Freedom of expression is also grounded in a deep trust in the individual—trust in one’s capacity to think, to discern, to agree or disagree responsibly. Whenever speech is restricted in the name of an alleged collective protection, what is often being protected is not social harmony, but the fragility of ideas incapable of sustaining themselves in open debate.
History shows that progress rarely emerges from imposed silence. Many of the ideas we now consider self-evident were, in their time, regarded as inconvenient, dangerous, or subversive. It was through the clash of arguments, and not through censorship, that societies evolved and improved.
There is a serene beauty in the coexistence of divergent opinions in the public sphere. It is in this civilized confrontation that thought is refined, errors are exposed to the light of scrutiny, and good ideas are strengthened. Silencing an opinion does not eliminate it. It merely pushes it into the shadows, where it tends to grow, fueled by resentment and distrust.
Defending freedom of expression does not mean agreeing with everything that is said. It means recognizing that its opposite is incomparably more dangerous. Whenever it is accepted that certain ideas may not be expressed, someone is granted the power to decide which ideas are admissible. Once established, that power rarely knows lasting limits.
In a time marked by heightened sensitivities and immediate reactions, freedom of expression demands courage and restraint. It requires accepting that living in freedom means listening to things we do not like. That is the price of coexistence among free people—and it is a modest price when compared to the cost of imposed silence.
Freedom of expression is not noise. It is the voice of a society confident enough to allow its citizens to think out loud. Its beauty lies not in uniformity, but in plurality. Not in comfort, but in freedom.
César DePaço
Entrepreneur and philanthropist
Honorary Consul of Portugal from 2014 to 2020
Founder and CEO of Summit Nutritionals International Inc.
President of the DePaço Foundation
Unconditional defender of law enforcement and conservative principles
