To quote the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin, “A nation can only be free, happy and great in proportion to the virtue and intelligence of the people.” The key to Secretary Austin’s statement revolves around the principle, and right, of free speech. 

Americans often take for granted the ability to exercise this right as they see fit. The ability to celebrate your culture, practice your philosophy, symbolically burn the American flag or even criticize the government without fear of severe consequence marks a cornerstone of freedom in the United States. For example, in China, Iran or North Korea, the citizens live in constant fear of retaliation for making statements against the government. Economically, the information free speech provides to the marketplace of ideas quantifies as one of the most costly features in our society. The information we seek is costly to acquire and scarce. However, I argue that free speech decreases the threshold to access information about different viewpoints, philosophical understandings and materialistic attributes that allow us to make choices every day. 

Freedom of speech grants individuals the opportunity to innovate and engage in their pursuit for excellence. As is often said,“Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.” I believe one ought to remain a patriot for their country and a critic of their government. Many people may not agree with such a position, but the fact I have the ability to express this belief makes me proud to live as an American. 

At the University of Texas at Austin, the conversative point of view remains the minority opinion on campus. Unfortunately, the need for additional open campus dialogue falls on deaf ears — namely the largely indifferent or liberal sectors of the student body, and at times, faculty members of UT. The issue of groupthink dominates the conversation on campus, and the consensus narrative of the liberal extremists, while in the minority, threatens others who do not share their viewpoints into submission. The mission of this great institution, which I love, remains under threat from such active efforts to suppress conservative and moderate opinions on campus. Does the liberal extremism in the UT Student Government accurately reflect the student body at large? I think not. Together, liberals and conservatives alike, must sue for ensuring the right to unfettered free speech, not only in the University rules, but also the campus culture. No one group ought to actively oppress the other. It is okay to have different viewpoints, but actively casting the minority opinions to the wind will not help either party. 

Longhorns have an obligation to secure the right to free speech and open dialogue because our various and unique backgrounds all have something to contribute to the larger conversation. Those who do not view free speech as under fire, I encourage you to consider what it might feel like to have no guaranteed right for freedom of expression. Just recently, Iranian agents executed a citizen who celebrated the loss of Iran’s national soccer team in the FIFA World Cup 2022. Imagine not being able to recognize Indigenous lands before every Student Government meeting because the government did not approve. Americans tend to take free speech for granted, and we will only realize its importance once that right has vanished from our society. 

In summation, George Orwell states, “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” Competition of ideas will enrich the Longhorn community tenfold. 

Moxley is a government and corporate communication junior. He was the vice chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas at UT Austin.