What is freedom of speech? Anyone would tell you that it means the right to speak up our minds whenever we feel like it, and no one can do anything about it. But then, if that's the case then what is the meaning of the right to not be offended? What about the right to not be discriminated?

Freedom of speech is not something that was given to us. It is something we fabricated ourselves.We should use the freedom of speech as an advantage for the mankind, not as a weapon to cause distress and violence for anyone at all. On the other hand, our brains are given to us. It's a gift. We should use it. But when have we done that?

Over the past few days, there have been some terrible events that stirred up a lot of trouble, and who was to blame? Exactly. It was freedom of speech. We take it so lightly, that it pains me to say that we are not using the brains that has been given to us. The brains that we have are used for logically analyzing what we are about to say, before we say it. But hasn't that gone to waste? Our intelligence may be superior to even animals, but it pains me to say that animals are more civil than we humans are.

Who gave the right to people to offend people? I thought that was a BIG 'NO WAY'! Why are people talking about Peace on Earth, when it is quite evident that it's not going to happen with how we are behaving in this world. Like little children in the playground with no teachers or parents to supervise. Screaming at each other and fighting whenever there is a chance to do so.

I fear that as freedom of speech is taken more and more for granted, the move from us saying, "the world is changing for the better," to "the world is just changing for the worse" becomes more and more imminent and evident. Please, if we want peace, let us think about it. Let us be like friends. Let there be respect. Let there be honor. For everyone. Everywhere. People please, we need to act now, or else the songs for 'Peace on Earth' will fade away, and we will tumble back into the Darker Ages. 

By Vicky Zhuang Yi-Yin