Everyone has their opinions. But of course, people usually respect the policy “keep your opinions to yourself” if it does seem a little too extreme to spread their idea. Doing this is the correct thing to do, however, sometimes it seems people live by this policy not because it is morally just, but because they aren’t brave enough to speak their mind. This is how a lot of people felt back in the 1700s in colonial America. Their lives were controlled by English governors, who weren’t always great at their jobs. They spent money on unnecessary things rather than needed items for the struggling colonists. The colonies all knew what evil was going on in the government, but many did not have the confidence to speak out against them and try to fix the problem. Instead, they sealed their lips, and kept their opinions to themselves, in order to avoid punishment, and be both respectful and polite.
All of this fear continued , until printers like John Peter Zenger came along. Zenger, after having built his paper, The New York Newspaper to success, made the courageous choice to print articles against New York’s unfair governor, Mr. Cosby. Zenger was charged with seditious libel, an English law making it illegal to print things against the government. In court, they stated that he was to be punished for writing false and rude things about his authorities. Zenger’s lawyer argued that the articles printed were not false. They stated that the governor was spending important money on his friends and himself rather than the well-being of the colony, which was not a lie. The lawyer explained that many others agree with the articles’ statements, and Zenger’s words could not be called false. The jury luckily agreed with what Zenger’s lawyer had to say, and the verdict of the trial was not-guilty.
Justice was served that day in the courtroom, because the English had been put in their place. Colonists from then on were not afraid to speak their minds in words and writing, because they knew together they had the power to silence their authorities like Zenger and his lawyer. As the colonists’ confidence increased, the confidence of the British decreased. Seditious libel was not abolished, but England stopped enforcing it. Eventually they knew the colonists would stick together, and use the same arguments against the law in every trial. Their lips were no longer sealed, for this was just the beginning of a revolution. Zenger as well as several other printers of his generation played a big role in the start of America by weakening the power of the British and strengthening that of their own people in the colonies.
The timid behavior of most people in the colonies was not a strange occurrence. In fact, we mimic their exact mind-set today. Speaking up and standing up for what you believe in will remain and always has remained difficult throughout time. However, there are a few exceptions; people who are like Zenger and don't see being brave as a challenge. Payton Justice is one of these exceptions. After being bullied for having a disorder that causes her to lose her hair, she boldly posted a picture of herself on Facebook with a caption explaining her story. She spoke against all of her haters and bullies, and received incredible responses to her thoughts . Just as Zenger inspired colonists, Payton inspired bully victims. The confidence of bullies who saw her post was lowered while that of victims was raised.
Speaking your mind and your opinions can be tough. It has always been that way, even in the 1700s, and even today. However, sometimes “keeping your opinions to yourself” isn’t always the best policy. In a situation like Payton’s or Zenger’s, the right thing to do is stand up for what’s right despite how hard it may be. Try and be like Zenger every once and a while, and speak your mind, or at least try to find inspiration from those who are like him, and like Payton. One thing that will never change is the difficulty of speaking your mind and standing up for what you believe. But the amount of inspiration that people bring to the world by completing that challenge, will never be changed either.
A good quote to live by :)
Bibliography:"Bald Teen Stands up to Bullies." Calvert Collins. Fox News. September 4th 2012.
http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/19456545/bald-teen-stands-up-to-bullies
Pictography:
"John Peter Zenger." Portrait. BlogSpot. http://johnpeterzenger.blogspot.com/
"Payton Justice." Photograph. Fox News. http://www.myfoxdfw.com/story/19456545/bald-teen-stands-up-to-bullies
" Stand up for what you believe in, even if it means standing alone." Image. Share if U agree. http://shareifuagree.com/stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-even-if-it-means-standing-alone/
Kayleigh, I thought this was a great blog post, and it was extremely well written! I love the topic of standing out and speaking up. The connection between Zenger and Payton was very clever. Nice job!
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