Our First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees each of us the privilege of Free Speech. This is in stark contrast to what is going on in Putin's Russia where journalists and protestors are being imprisoned for any expression of dissent or truth. Do the Russian mothers even know what is being demanded of their sons?
Regardless of our opinions about journalism today, we need to remember that we have a free flow of information, and that should be valued. Our free press is called the #FourthEstate in a democracy because it serves as a watchdog that challenges, questions, and informs. Our Democracy is built and supported by four cornerstones: the Executive branch, the Legislative branch, the Judicial branch -- and the free press which has a moral imperative to inform, to verify, to tell the truth.
As a journalist and writer, I understand how fragile this freedom is, but also how powerful it is. I am a proud member of #PENAmerica. Their Free Expression Programs defend writers and journalists and protect free expression rights in the United States and around the world. This work includes research and reports on topical issues ranging from fraudulent news in Russia to censorship in China; advocacy internationally and in the United States in defense of press freedom and on other free expression challenges; and campaigns on policy issues and on behalf of individual writers and journalists under threat. #PEN.org
Let's not take our freedom for granted!
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