STUDENT VOICE | Page 24

SPECIAL FEATURE The benefits of SPEAKING OUT by Tayla Kelly, HNC Social Science We are all fortunate to live in a democratic country and also that Article 10 of the European convention on Human Rights entitles us to “free speech”, however, how many of us take this right for granted and how many of us don’t utilise the opportunity enough? Within the last century, the United Kingdom has progressed rapidly from having no democracy at all prior to the First World War, to having people of all ages, sizes, religions and backgrounds able and free to say whatever they “How are people to understand without asking questions?” like, whenever they like it. As a result of this, we can sometimes feel as though we are being forced into categories; whether it’s feminist, environmentalist, pacifist or pro-independence activist. Yes, the prospect of being part of something bigger can 24 THE STUDENT VOICE: EDITION 4