If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter.

Hello, I am George Washington, the first President of the United States and one of the founders of this great republic. Among the many principles I cherished, one stands out as a pillar of liberty and democracy: "If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led like sheep to the slaughter." These words represent my deep conviction that freedom of speech is essential to the survival of any free society. During my time, this belief was not theoretical—it was a lived reality. The struggle for independence was not just a fight against foreign rule but a battle for the right to speak, debate, and criticize oppressive systems. Without the ability to voice dissent, tyranny thrives unchecked, and citizens are reduced to mere subjects, powerless to resist. In the 18th century, freedom of speech was not guaranteed. Colonists faced censorship and repression for questioning the British Crown. It was through the exercise of free speech—through pamphlets, public discourse, and protests—that the revolutionary spirit gained strength. The power of ideas, freely expressed, united a diverse people under the common cause of liberty. But this quote does not belong to my era alone. Its relevance has endured, and in the modern age, it is more critical than ever. Today, we face new challenges to freedom of speech, not just from governments but also from corporations, misinformation, and the weaponization of communication technologies.