I've thought about this quite a bit recently and have come to the conclusion that free speech, broadly speaking, is way more than a constitutional amendment pro

I've thought about this quite a bit recently and have come to the conclusion that free speech, broadly speaking, is way more than a constitutional amendment protecting us from government persecution. That's a last resort protection. Free speech is an ethic, an ideology, a deep part of our culture as Americans and essential to western enlightenment. It's a human right. You don't have to agree with someone to think it's wrong to censor them. Corollary, you don't take away someone's human rights because they have an opinion you think is reprehensible. History has a pretty damning record of what happens when societies allow silencing of undesirable voices.