2008 Woodie Awards
What is the true meaning of freedom?
Shane Daniels
Issue date: 2/15/05 Section: Forum
- Page 1 of 2 next >
Ben Franklin once stated, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Albert Einstein believed that "the basis of a democratic society is liberty." Malcolm X would argue that "you can't separate
peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom." Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a "day when his children would be free." So what exactly does it mean to be free?
Was the freedom that Benjamin Franklin expressed the same freedom that Dr. King dreamed of? What determines a person's freedom? Or better yet, who determines a person's freedom? Is it a leader or some form of government? Is it God? Or is it the individual? Is the state of being "free" a feeling that one creates, or is there tangible evidence that freedom exists?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines freedom as "the absence of necessity, coercion (domination by force) or constraint in choice or action." America defines freedom as one's ability to pursue life and happiness. Are you free? Are you happy?
In President Bush's recent inauguration speech, he uses the word freedom numerous times in defining the worldwide spread of democracy and the fight against terrorism. The war with Iraq has even been labeled as "Operation Iraqi Freedom," implying that the war is designed to "free" the foreign country from their social, cultural and governmental constraints.
Using the method of war, America has destroyed Iraq's infrastructure, and then imposed elections forcing the Iraqi people to vote for U.S. selected officials. Consequently, not only are U.S. social influences being imposed, but America is now controlling the country's governmental policies and decisions. This was forced on the Iraqi people. Was Iraq not "free" because they had what some might call an "evil" dictator? What determined if he was "evil" or not? Did Saddam kill innocent civilians in his own country? Do millions of Americans go to bed hungry every night? Is there a difference between these two ills on society? Doesone deserve more attention than the other?
peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom." Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a "day when his children would be free." So what exactly does it mean to be free?
Was the freedom that Benjamin Franklin expressed the same freedom that Dr. King dreamed of? What determines a person's freedom? Or better yet, who determines a person's freedom? Is it a leader or some form of government? Is it God? Or is it the individual? Is the state of being "free" a feeling that one creates, or is there tangible evidence that freedom exists?
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines freedom as "the absence of necessity, coercion (domination by force) or constraint in choice or action." America defines freedom as one's ability to pursue life and happiness. Are you free? Are you happy?
In President Bush's recent inauguration speech, he uses the word freedom numerous times in defining the worldwide spread of democracy and the fight against terrorism. The war with Iraq has even been labeled as "Operation Iraqi Freedom," implying that the war is designed to "free" the foreign country from their social, cultural and governmental constraints.
Using the method of war, America has destroyed Iraq's infrastructure, and then imposed elections forcing the Iraqi people to vote for U.S. selected officials. Consequently, not only are U.S. social influences being imposed, but America is now controlling the country's governmental policies and decisions. This was forced on the Iraqi people. Was Iraq not "free" because they had what some might call an "evil" dictator? What determined if he was "evil" or not? Did Saddam kill innocent civilians in his own country? Do millions of Americans go to bed hungry every night? Is there a difference between these two ills on society? Doesone deserve more attention than the other?
RSS Feed