LA COLUMNA DE MARTÍN LAZO CUEVAS

By Martín Lazo Cuevas

Freedom of expression is not just a right enshrined in international documents or national constitutions. It is, above all, the living heartbeat of a society that yearns to understand itself, correct itself, and grow stronger.

When the citizen raises their voice —to propose, to question, or simply to share— they contribute to the grand symphony of a pluralistic community. Every word they speak, when done with respect and responsibility, adds another brick to the vibrant and free nation we aspire to build.

When the government representative speaks, their voice is not solely their own: it carries the echo of millions. Their words hold the power to ignite trust or extinguish it, to unite wills or fracture them. Hence, they must speak with truth, transparency, and a vocation for service.

When the social, political, or religious leader delivers their message, they hold in their hands the possibility to ignite hope or spread hatred. Their duty, beyond any cause, is to inspire, to call for dialogue, to build bridges where others see chasms.

And when the journalist or the writer writes, they open paths of light amidst confusion. Through their pen, they give voice to the voiceless, unveil uncomfortable truths, and create spaces where reflection matures and critical thought blossoms.

Freedom of expression is, at its core, an act of social love.
To love is to dare to speak honestly, but also to listen humbly. To love is to use words not to wound, but to heal; not to divide, but to build.

Defending freedom of expression means defending our capacity to dream together, to disagree without breaking apart, to grow as a community within our diversity.
Because only through free, responsible, and hopeful words can we sow the just, united, and luminous society that our times so urgently demand.