In the United States, like in many countries, every citizen has the right to speak freely. Can it be said that every citizen also has the right to act in silence? Our society favors reason, whether it be motive in a crime or the process we use to choose between two trade goods. In the court of law a defendant has the right to silence as a means to avoiding self-incrimination, but witnesses do not have a choice when it comes to remaining silent. Can there be one absolute rule?
Acting in speech involves taking responsibility for one's words. If one uses slanderous speech, they must be ready to take on the possible consequences. Similarly, acting in silence exemplifies the existence of responsibility. Unless the situation is one in which a person's livelihood is threatened, as in termination from a job, I believe we all have the right to act in silence. This being said, the person acting in silence has no right to complain about how they are percieved or treated after the act.
I agree with everything you're saying. I'm curious, though - what about people who choose to stay silent out of fear, and this fear is enforced? That's a form of oppression. If an employee remains silent about harrassment out of fear of losing their job, does this mean that we can judge them harshly when they do speak out? There's no right answer, I suppose.
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