Freedom
Freedom for me means living a life free from government oppression. Webster’s dictionary defines the term freedom as,” the state of being free, exempt from the power and control of another, liberty, independence,” but when government oversteps that authority it is time for the people to wake up and demand change. That change may be through the political process or by direct intervention with force. The circumstances by which changes are done depend on the magnitude of the problem. In an open, free society peaceful means of change are possible.
The meaning of freedom needs to be explained further. The word is based on the word free. Free, according to Webster’s dictionary, means (1) enjoying personal liberty, (2) possessing civil and political liberties, (3) exempt from external restriction, (4) able to do something at will, (5) clear of obstructions are obstacles, (6) not occupied or in use, (7) unaffected by something; exempt or released, (8) provided without a charge, (9) not attached or tied; loose, (10) lacking self-restraint, generous or lavish as in giving, (11) not literal. There are many shades of meaning to the word free which may be interpreted in freedom. Freedom is (1) the state of being free, (2) political independence, (3) personal liberty, (4) exemption; immunity, (5 ease or facility of movement or action, (6) frankness as of speech, (seven was parentheses a right as of citizenship or membership, (8) the right to frequent, enjoy, or use at will.
With all the different shades of meaning to freedom it is sometimes difficult to explain exactly what freedom means personally. I have taken the meaning in a political context. Freedom to live life as I see fit is one of the highest obligations of our country to all of us. It is the duty of the Constitution of the United States to guarantee the freedoms by which I can live my life as I want. The implementation of these freedoms is the responsibility of the government which has been elected by the people.
Freedom does not mean taking things or doing things that are not earned or deserved. There are limitations to freedoms which are clearly outlined by law. There are few things that cannot be gained with hard work. Unfortunately, there are many within our society that believes they are entitled to benefits simply because they are citizens of the country. Freedom implies choices. Those choices are those upon which we build our lives. We can choose to be productive or we can choose to waste our resources in idle living. The choice is always ours. However, we all must live with housing, food, and healthcare. These elements of living are not obtained without work done for the sake of making money to pay for those services. I have the freedom to work and enjoy what I make. I value that freedom very much.
The government is responsible for the protection of freedom. My freedom is guaranteed by my country. The government is in constant change through the political process. Special interest groups, individuals, and powerful corporations may force their self-serving needs upon the government and change the laws. When this occurs freedoms may be lost. The special interests may be served well but the general public suffers a loss. We must be constantly on guard for those elements which are looking after their own interests alone. This is one of the most important considerations in living in a free country. We must never lose our freedoms from lack of interest.
Many factors enter into why freedoms are lost. The most common that I see is the lack of interest of the general public in what is happening in political elections. Not enough people take the interest to completely understand the issues that are being voted upon. Voting is a freedom that needs to be exercised completely to protect our freedoms. Without paying attention we can completely lose everything that we have worked so hard for.
Freedom does not necessarily mean equality. Although we may be equal under the law, in reality we are unequal in our personal abilities as shown by the different jobs we have. Obviously a doctor and an office worker have different abilities. To me, howeve,r equality means that I am protected under law to the same degree as anyone else in this country. This is an equality that I cherish. I hold that equality is the keystone to what freedom actually means to all of us. I have the same potential to be and do anything that anyone else has with the right education and work. I am not frozen in one place. I can dream and go to the top if I want. This is only possible in a country that allows true freedom.
When a government fails to protect freedom and guarantee equality something must be done to regain what has been lost. The first step is to voice protests to the representatives in the government. Our representatives should be responsive to our needs and help guide the country in the proper direction. When the government fails to respond in a timely and effective fashion consideration should be given to visible protests. These protests should not be destructive in any way. In the last analysis, if the government does not respond, it may be necessary to forcibly take action with physical force. In the modern world this type of revolution is impractical and would result in the destruction of modern society.
I believe that freedom is my greatest asset in this country. I will do anything to actively preserve my rights as a citizen to live as the Constitution of the United States has stated I should live. I am equal under law and respectfully accept the equality of others. As a free society we must continually be on guard to those elements which work against our personal freedoms. If we are unhappy we must put our self in a position to make our voice felt in the political process.
