Freedom of speech along with freedom of the press gives us the right to criticize. These rights are unique in that they are not found in many other countries of the world, if at all to the degree we have them. Both of these are engrained in our Constitution under the 1st Amendment and are the primary principles on which our country was found. We can find examples of individuals exercising their right to criticize in news reports, articles and sometimes books. Our right to criticize basically involves projecting our opinion on an action or event.
Our freedoms as identified in the Constitution are constantly being attacked today by individuals and groups who want some, if not all of them, restricted. It is primarily based on their perception of the intent when they were included in the Constitution. This sometimes is exhibited in decisions made by judges in cases brought before them. Speaking freely does have some legal limits in terms of honest criticism. We can and do have the right to express our opinion but our opinion when we express it cannot trample on the rights of others. The word opinion is the key. Laws governing slander and libel are examples of the limits we have under free speech and freedom of the press.
The freedoms we have today are vital to our society and us as individuals. It is the way we learn from each other. When we exercise our right to criticize and present the reasons supporting our statements it can help others understand why we feel the way we do. They may not always agree with our opinion but they will better understand our perspective. It is also important for us to understand that criticism can be an avenue to learning from another individual or group. As human beings and individuals we do not know everything and interacting with others when they have remarks help us to grow as individuals.
Another aspect of criticizing events or political candidates involves the exposure it may or may not receive from various media resources. This election year we have seen a number of critical remarks from all candidates and they will undoubtedly increase in the future. These criticizing remarks will receive wide exposure by the media but we must not accept the remarks as truthful until we check the facts.
As mentioned earlier we have limitations on remarks we make whether it is verbal or in some form of print publication regardless of whether it is online or in published media sources. We have a responsibility to check the facts before we criticize any individual or organization. Exercising our right to criticize through the right we have to freely express our opinion often brings a topic higher in the hierarchy when we raise issues the public feels are important. Let us as individuals before we jump to conclusions about any event or comment to check the facts. Sometimes media sources only present one side of an issue and may leave out facts that may alter our opinion. The same principle should be applied to political candidates in what they say and sometimes what they do.
The last point to make is that as individuals we must choose the time when we exercise our criticism. In the work environment there are or may be additional limitations as to what amount of criticism may be permitted. Some organizations embrace constructive criticism while others have an environment which is unfavorable to criticizing others, especially management. Additionally posting criticism on such sites as Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin can also cause problems if you work for the organization. These sites have millions of users and/or visitors and when statements are made criticizing individuals or organizations the news travels fast and can cause repercussions in the workplace. We must choose our times wisely when exercising our right to criticize an event or an individual. Choosing the right moment to exercise your right to criticize may provide more impact for what you want to let others know. Criticizing can involve personal experiences or an unfavorable opinion for the action of others.