Freedom of Expression the Impact

Freedom of Expression The Impact of Art in Contribution to Society The purpose of this paper is the provision of an example in a society or country where freedom of expression is limited or repressed. Further the analysis of the impact of art in society and the determination of how freedom of expression furthers the goals of society. Freedom of expression is taken for granted in the United States but in other areas of the world there is no freedom to express oneself either through verbalization, writing, music or art.

In these restrictive nations the individual expression is stifled and more than being frowned upon self-expression may cost the individual their life for having been expressed. It is hard for citizens of the United States to imagine such a terrible and horrendous limitation being placed upon the life of a human being however, in the days to come and in light of the U.S. Patriot and Homeland Security Act the unthinkable may be witnessed even in America.

The Basis of Freedom of Expression: The American Convention through Article 13(1) establishes freedom of expression: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought and express. Inclusive in the meaning of 'Freedom of Expression" is: "the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing, in print, in the form of art, or through any other medium one one's choice." This statement of the American Convention is stated with the same intent and content of Article 19(2) of the International Covenant.

Freedom of expression is within the concept of liberal thought whose roots are in the Age of Enlightenment which is considered to be Liberal but then so is the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution both of which were conceived by liberal political figures and philosophers inspiring the 18th Century revolution. Basic to the concept of liberal thought is that individuals are born free and equal with dignity and rights that are fundamental an inalienable.

Specifically in regards to the rights of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." The concept is one in which although sovereignty is vested in the nation who purpose is the ensuring of these elements in the lives of the citizens. Society is further through freedom of expression furthers judicial values in society in four ways.

First the security of the individual which is expressed in the right not to be detained or imprisoned except according to the 'Constitutional' law and then rights of a jury trial as well as rights to a defense attorney are guaranteed. Secondly, through Freedom appropriated by the United States Constitution.

Third through equal protections before the law rendering equality through disallowing discrimination based on race, color, sex, language or country of origin and is inclusive of the aspects of religion, political or other opinions, national or social origin, economic position, or any other social condition related to each or pertaining to rights that are common, civic, political, economical, social or cultural.

The fourth is the right to the protection derived from the legal system which is in actuality the personal and individual acknowledgement to nationality, religious persuasion, and any other fundamental individual specifics that may give provision of rights of the system due to the individual in terms of right or obligations. II. Three Important Factors: According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) freedom of expression is the: 1. "Foundation of self-fulfillment" 2. "It's vital to the attainment and advancement of knowledge; and 3.

"It's necessary to our system of self-government giving the American people a 'checking function' against government access and corruption. III. Oppression of Individual Expression: China is a country that Americans would not be able to stay in for long without feeling very much violated in terms of their human rights and most particularly the freedom of expression. The violation of human rights has been witnessed in cultural oppression as well as religious and art oppression.

In a recent EU statement the acknowledgement of "some positive developments" were mentioned in relation to China as to its reforms in the rule of law which are underway but the statement revealed that the EU was still very concerned by "the extensive use of the death penalty, the continuation of the 'strike hard' campaign, the widespread use of torture and arbitrary detention including the practices of re-education through labor'.' The arrest of Menpa Dorjee in 1997 was just one example of China's invasive control which it attempts to hold over its' citizens.

Dorjee was a 55-year-old who was arrested for hanging a Tibetan flag in the middle of the street. Dorjee was a physician in theallopathic medicine and has extensive knowledge in relation to texts and art. In a reported date December 9, 2004 reported was that television programming had been accomplished by the Venezuelan television channels stating that due to fear of penalties under a recent law which would mean the payment of high dollar fines.

Channels that were reporting incidents of street violence blanked out the scenes in order to avoid being assessed fines or possibly receiving other charges for violation of the new law. According to State Department spokesperson Adam Ereli: The law specifically imposes vague restrictions.. On media content, and allows the.