The benefits of freedom of speech is something U.S. citizens like to lay claim to a lot. It has however taken a beating on the international stage lately, both from the rise of powers that dont put a lot of faith in the need for it, and from geopolitcal realities. I understand this, but what bothers me is not so much that we aren't brow beating China, or Egypt, or Venezuala, or Afghanistan, or Russia, or Iran about their policies what bothers me is what a crappy job we are doing in demonstrating the benefits of free speech. Some proud Chinese citizen would probably be perfectly right in saying 'o.k. so maybe we can't express ourselves as freely, but what has it gotten you? Politicians that will make claims that they know are lies, talking heads that spout all sorts of craziness, everyone inflaming a dialouge that gets no where. That is the benefit of free speech? That is what it accomplishes? Perhaps you shouldn't call it free speech, you should call it free yelling.'
So I wish we could do a better job of it. That the purchase of free speech was accomplished by being willing to accept the responsibility to listen. To not do so will do greater harm to the concept of free speech than turning ones head as other countries abuse free speech.