Parrhesia: Using Your Freedom of Speech for The Good or The Bad.
Living in a democratic institution, we all have the freedom to say what we have on our mind. Some citizens use their freedom of speech in a positive way, while others use it to oppress, insult or harm others.
Parrhesia? What does it Mean?
Foucault interprets parrhesia as “free speech.” It is someone who speaks the truth, does not hide anything, risks their life for telling the truth, and believe it is their duty to improve or help others even if they are criticized. In order to speak and use your voice for the good there has to be courage no matter the circumstances. Having free speech in a democratic institution is a great privilege, but yet other use their free speech to minimize groups or individuals such as our President Donald J. Trump.
Democratic Institution: How Parrhesia can be a Problem
When one hears “democracy” what does it mean to you? To me, it means having an equal say in our society, having rights, and the power to create change. It is great to live in a democratic institution and be happy with these values that are provided to us. The problem that Foucault mentions about parrhesia is the “relationship of parrhesia to democratic institutions.”Living in a democratic institution means that everyone is equal and every citizen has the right to speak, even the worst. The citizens that use parrhesia in a negative way are ignorant speakers who just talk without considering how their words can harm others. Those ignorant citizens may believe that what they say is best for the people but in reality it may not be. This is what Foucault is trying to make us understand that “parrhesia may be dangerous for democracy itself.” This is because everyone is allowed to speak even the worst of people.
“I moved on her like a bitch, but I couldn’t get there, and she was married. Then all of a sudden I see her, she’s now got the big phony tits and everything.” (It’s not clear who Trump was talking about.)“I’m automatically attracted to beautiful [women] — I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything … Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.” — Donald J. Trump showing disrespect toward women.
The Difference in how Parrhesia was used between Meryl Streep and Donald J. Trump
As we know Mr. Trump has used his freedom of speech by using violent language and discriminating minority groups. He has insulted, disrespected and harmed several people. When he was announcing his candidacy for president he started talking about Mexicans. He said, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapist. And some, I assume, are good people.” When someone reads or hears what he said it hurts that community, because he is comparing and labeling Mexicans and Mexican immigrants as “rapist” and he “assumes” that some of those people are good people. Well this man is very powerful and when people hear a man who has power saying those negative word, those people follow and believe that it is okay to say similar remarks like he does. They believe that his words hold truth. Mr. Trump has encouraged violence especially during his rallies, because of how he has discriminated minorities. Some of his followers think, that if Mr. Trump says, that any Muslim or Mexican immigrants are a danger to our society then it gives people permission to insult and use violence against them. His use of parrhesia is negative, and violent and targets certain groups that he believes are a danger to America. Instead of uniting every person in the United States, he is causing a division, because what he believes is the right may not be the best for the general population.
Meryl Streep, a well known actress who at the Golden Globes used her acceptance speech to talk about, at that time the president-elect Mr. Trump. She was upset on how Mr.Trump talked about minority groups and the way he made fun of a disabled reporter. In her acceptance speech she said, “but who are we, and what is Hollywood anyway? It’s just a bunch of people from other places…So Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners. And if we kick them all out you’ll have nothing to watch…” Instead of insulting Mr. Trump, and using violent language she used a calm voice and reminded others that diversity is beautiful and everyone no matter where you come from or how you physically look should feel accepted. Her use of parrhesia was to tell the truth and make people aware that how Mr. Trump, disrespects others is not okay. She also mentioned that Tommy Lee Jones said to me, “Isn’t it such a privilege, Meryl, just to be an actor?” Yeah, it is, and we have to remind each other of the privilege and the responsibility of the act of empathy.” Meryl Streep saw the privilge of being an actor and she saw the opportunity to use her freedom of speech and use it in a positive way. She felt that it was her duty to help others, to defend them from a person who oppresses them. Meryl knew that she was going to be criticized, which she was, but that did not stop her from doing what she believed was the right thing to do and that was to stand up to a “bully” who has discriminated groups and individuals.
It is good that we are able to have free speech. We are able to say what comes to mind. We have seen the different sides of how parrhesia, however, with such freedom comes responsibility. The responsibility to take ownership of your words and believes.
