The idea of free speech embedded into the U.S. Constitution 225 years ago remains an elusive goal ever under attack and in need of a diligent defense. Even as we Americans often don’t fully grasp its scope and meaning, what we hold as a fundamental right isn’t always acknowledged everywhere. We have seen this play out in recent unrelated events, each of which follow a thread to ponder: Free expression isn’t a given, and where it exists, its consequences can be sobering.