Banned books et. al.
Free speech and free thought is a constant battle. Great things happen as well as great suffering when one can speak against and established ideology: The King, The Church, The State. The first sign of oppression is the death of the press.
We find heroes and make them brave and noble: Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James Madison; Thomas Jefferson; Benjamin Franklin; Susan B. Anthony; Elizabeth Cady Stanton; Lenny Bruce; John Lennon; George Carlin; Abbie Hoffman; Jack Kerouac; Martin Luther; Martin Luther King, Jr., Loompanics Unlimited.
I could write a list for days highlighting the brigands and intelligentsia and assorted kooks daring to state that an individual's thoughts and freedom are the most important item in the universe. There's no free will without free thought. You should disagree with God if that is your own thoughtful position.
Americans (at least in theory, maybe not so much in practice) seem to love an underdog. Especially one that was historically correct. MLK is loved and adored now, but not so much in his own time (thus the reason for the holiday). We like to attach a nobility, in the present, to actions which were met by jeers or even more violent behaviors, in the past.
Free speech without said nobility is frightening. Free speech includes statements such as: "I'd like to fuck your children" and "In my opinion, it would be perfectly justifiable to shoot that bitch taking too long at McDonald's." The fear of what thoughts can invoke cause panic. There are those who want power that feed that fear.
Protestant's want to overthrow the Pope! Hippies want your children to smoke dope! Witches and Pagans are trying to get your children to worship the Devil! Homosexuals are ruining the American family! It goes on and on and on.
This is why it is on us. Prosers, writers, those who believe in free speech. We have a duty to speak. Freedom, free thought, democracy (to partially steal a Washington Post ad) dies in darkness.
Technology exists at a terrifying level these days. Tracking your search history and contacts on your phone is easy. EASY! Privacy is a historical anomoly. They are working on active, portable, brainwave scanners. We're not plucking subversive thoughts out of pedestrians yet, but give it time. The technology is advancing now. There are groups who would be very interested in these operating in real time. Nazis and fascists exist now and would love to find a way to justify stomping out opposition.
We have a duty. Speak truth. Speak thoughts. Speak fantasy. Talk Hard (to steal the title to an 80's movie). It started with secret messages back in ancient history and continues through the printing press and snapchat and any secure messaging that exists today. Speak out of injustice, of racism, of corruption, in your writings, on YouTube, on TheProse, Twitter, FaceBook. We can no longer rely upon the tried an true freedom of press. Newspapers and local news channels are being bought by corporate monsters that only care for profit. "Must Runs" show up on local news. Even if you find yourself the most popular streamer or influencer and it pays you beyond your fantasy, take a moment, once in awhile, to speak out.
The unfortunate truth is that everyone's freedom depends on the willingness of the few to hold to an ideal.