Human beings have three basic rights: the right to life, the right to free speech, and the right to property.

The right to life is emphasized repeatedly in the Declaration of Independence, while property rights are specifically protected in the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments of the Bill of Rights. The connection between the rights to life and property and "maintaining survival" is straightforward, as these rights safeguard our bodies and property from unlawful harm. However, why is freedom of speech given primacy in the First Amendment and regarded as even more important than property rights?

Solitary confinement in prison is considered such a severe punishment not only because it leads to loneliness but because it cuts off the prisoner’s connection with the world. If I were deprived of sunlight, I might be able to endure for a year; if unable to speak with others, perhaps I could manage a few months. But if I were also denied the ability to read and express my thoughts in writing, the combination would likely break me within weeks, leading to mental collapse and, eventually, physical decline.

I am someone who cannot suppress my thoughts. Without an outlet to connect with the world, I feel suffocated. This need for mutual understanding with the world is deeply ingrained, helping me transform loneliness into solitude and maintain clarity of mind. Therefore, the freedom to express is a fundamental need and should be recognized as a basic right.

Expression can take two forms: release or reflection. By first organizing thoughts inwardly before outwardly expressing them, one asks questions or offers understanding to the world, leading to inner peace. On the other hand, if one expresses without internal organization, it often becomes complaints or demands, which tend to be met with indifference or chaos.

Expression can also take two forms: language (words) or action. Words are the soul’s way of reinterpreting the world, while actions are the soul’s responses to it. Similarly, the world responds to us with both obvious and subtle signs or consequences. Through continuous reinterpretation, we become better at accurately understanding the world’s responses to us.

Expression is a fundamental need, which is why the freedoms of speech and assembly are protected. By using these freedoms wisely, both we and the world can become better.