What Does It Mean To Be Free?
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

What Does It Mean To Be Free?

Being free is the ability to do whatever you want without limitations or controls.

15550
What Does It Mean To Be Free?
Pexels

As we approach closer to the July 4th weekend, we can start looking back at America's history and appreciate how far we have come. We celebrate this by having cookouts and barbecue with family, music, and of course, fireworks!

But... what would happen if we didn't have freedom?

Let's look back at how we got our freedom...

We can't understand the value of freedom until we look back at how we got our freedom. The tradition of having independence trails back to the early 1800s. After Christopher Columbus Sailed into the "New World," he realized he had company (aka Indians).

Meanwhile, everyone else started heading to this new land because they did not like the King's laws. So in 1775, the "Americans" declared war against Britain to gain independence.

Since the Americans won the Revolution, Thomas Jefferson had created a document confirming that they were free from Britain, titled the "Declaration of Indepence" on July 4, 1776. The 13 colonies were no longer under England's rule, instead, they were their own country. This document contains the famous opening line, which quotes:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

What is freedom?

According to Dictionary Cambridge , Freedom is defined as "the condition or right of being able or allowed to do whatever you want to do without being controlled or limited". So many people come from all over the world to America to achieve their "American Dream". With this, freedom and Liberty, they can achieve it, without any limitations or being controlled.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

As we look at the Preamble of the Declaration of Indepence, it first shows that ALL men are created equal, meaning all people are treated equality. If there is discrimination, then that's not treating "all men" equally.

Secondly, it explains that everyone has rights, which is structured on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As we look back to the definition, freedom is the ability to do whatever we want without being limited or controlled.

But, as you know, with great power (in this case freedom) comes great responsibility. One of Newton's three Laws of Motion states that "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". This is also known as the "Chain reaction effect".

This can be applied to life in general. In this case, talking about freedom, yes, American can do whatever they want. However, what they do affects their consequences in the future.

For example, if you leave your house and left your door unlocked, then you are risking a robbery taking place inside your home. According to Romancing your Soul, "Everything we do is a choice, and every choice we make has a consequence" regardless of whether or not the consequences are good or bad.

If it wasn't for the military, the United States of America wouldn't be United. We wouldn't have our freedom and rights. They made the choice to sacrifice their lives to serve and protect our country.

The choices we make may not only affect ourselves but also others in the long run. Sometimes, we may unintentionally harm others and ourselves without even knowing it. So with freedom comes great responsibility.

Why do we have freedom? Why do we need it?

In short, we have the freedom we have because we have earned it from the British. We had a choice whether or not to stand up against the British, and we did.

As previously mentioned, freedom is the ability to do whatever you want without limitations or being controlled. However, according to John Mill and his work "On Liberty," he argues that "Liberty is justified by the utility obtained by having it."

So what does this mean? It's safer to have freedom and liberty than to be "sorry," as people say.

We need freedom because it involves our everyday lives. How we spend our money, how we earn it, what we say, what we do, what we believe, all of those are choices we make. And those choices come from freedom.

What if we didn't have freedom?

Imagine living in a country where you can't decide what you want to become, how you want to spend your day or even how you want to live your life.

Imagine a life where you don't get a say--a life where all of your choices are made for you.

For some people, this is the case. They don't get a choice. All of their choices are already made for them.

Now, imagine a life where nobody was controlling you. (Yes, you will be able to make your own decisions.) However, there is no structure, leading to chaos. There's no leader to guide the civilization. With nobody to manage anything, the chaos created will just get worse. All the people in the community have to take care of each other and manage each other. Everyone is not only their own boss but also everyone else's boss as well.

So then... what does it mean to be free?

Being free is the ability to do whatever you want without limitations or controls. But, with those choices you make there will be a cost later on. We live in a world where we can make our own decisions at our own free will, not someone else's will.

America is structured on Democracy and a free-market economy. Everybody has a say and still has someone to look up to as a leader.

Looking back at our history, we fought for our freedom. We stood up for what we thought was right. So, sit back, relax, eat some food, watch some fireworks. Everybody's earned it! Long live the American Dream.

"From sea to shining sea... Let freedom ring!"

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70873
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132465
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments