No Room For Words

We can consider ourselves fortunate to live in a democracy like ours. It is a privilege to be able to move freely, develop ourselves, and, above all, express our opinions freely. However, with such a wide variety of opinions, extremes and social divisions are continuing to increase. Whether on the left or the right, people often believe that only their own perspective is correct. It seems almost impossible to understand the opposing opinion or even listen to it. Instead, positions are being expressed more and more loudly and radically. “Everyone says they are in favor of democracy—but only as long as everyone agrees with them” (Grandma Liesel). Our freedom of expression is a great achievement that we must protect. This includes listening to each other, letting each other finish speaking, and not rushing to judge or censor.