Freedom. I stand for it, by it, and am willing to fight to the death for it. I look to ancestors and millions of immigrants who came to this country seeking it. The Bill of Rights designates freedoms. The Statue of Liberty signifies a welcome to the land of the free. Freedom is what the Founding Fathers intended. Freedom is the reason I am willing to die for the flying red, white, and blue colors on fabric that means so much more.
Waking up in the morning at whatever time and picking whatever clothes I want and praying to Muhammad or God or Buddha (even though you do not pray to Buddha) and talking freely about government (faults and positives) and the freedom to learn whatever I desire are the best parts of this country. From a good, objective history teacher, it is easy to learn about all of the atrocities of the country along with the highlights. Other countries do not necessarily teach much about how the government works, and the United States government not only teaches all about the processes and acts and workings, but because of the insight into the government, there have been various reforms to make the whole system more and more democratic. Voting for the first time this February 1st, on Super Duper Tuesday, I exercised both my 19th and 26th amendment rights. That feeling of freedom and power in the ballot box and knowing that my vote counts in determining an election is well worth any struggles along the way.
Of course, many may argue that our freedoms are being suppressed, and I should want to fight against that suppression. I think it is then important to look at how far the country has come away from freedom suppression. Of course, during time of war freedoms are limited. They always have been. During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, and during World War I Schenk v. United States determined the "cannot say fire in a crowded theater" and inciting violence suppression of speech, and during World War II, Franklin Roosevelt put thousands of Japanese-AMERICANs into interment camps. The point is that only one of these ideas stuck, and that is the one that decided the suppression of speech that would incite violence was better for the whole. War is not an excuse to suppress freedom, but rather it makes Presidents act a little to radically to try and protect the country's masses. Checks into reality make other politicians realize that these initial actions were too harsh, hence why the Japanese-AMERICANs are not still unjustly interned and people cannot be held without knowing what they are being tried for. Another example of the forward movement with increases of freedoms and democracy are with court cases and political practice. Before Chief Justice Burger ruled in Gideon v. Wainright, it was decided that the rights in the Constitution only protected people from the federal government and not state governments. That was why Florida could try people without giving them attorneys; it was not in the state constitution. After that point, people were protected by the Constitution from state governments, as well. Miranda v. Arizona is a testament to that. The country is not perfect, but it is trying. Voting rights have been increased over the years. People have the power to pick the president because there are no faithless voters in the electoral college and primaries choose the candidates for each party. There are some suppressions of freedoms and prejudices that still exist which are just as bad as no freedom, but the country is gradually shifting to more freedom for the people.
This country is not perfect. No country is perfect, just as no people are perfect. There have been a history of faults and terrible misdeeds. There has also been a history of valor and bravery and courage all to protect the freedoms that this country holds so dear. I am willing to be the next person to be killed in battle, simply so everyone who reads this article can still have the freedom to agree of disagree. One of the best things a person can do to be a dutiful citizen and patriotic is to never stop questioning. Do not be paranoid that there is always some kind of conspiracy, but make sure to look into reasoning for things before making a downright statement. Try to look at the whole picture, rather than just personal conflicts with laws and rules. Take advantage of the freedoms that people have fought so dearly for, and remember that you may not agree with war overall, but think of the reason why men and women go to war. It is usually because they think the country's freedoms and liberties are at stake and want to protect them for you and me and the rest of the people and future people. Freedom is not free, but exercising freedoms that have been already won is free. I love living in a freedom filled country, and other people should try to enjoy it too.
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5 comments:
Your vow to die for your country--and as a FutureDevilDog, that is not hyperbole--is strong here because it is not blind following. I've been impressed by your willingness to acknowledge the imperfections that you might have been blind to before. You argue--and fight--from a stronger position when you can see all sides.
Your statement, "From a good, objective history teacher, it is easy to learn about all of the atrocities of the country along with the highlights" causes me to pause and consider history teachers I have known as well as history textbooks I have read. I wonder if there is any really objective history teacher.
I have yet to find an object history textbook. The single descriptive word choice puts a slant on any historical event or individual. These are subtle biases that often go unrecognized.
We may think word choice makes reading more interesting and keeps our attention. Sure this may be true, but each adjective or descriptive verb puts a slant on the situation.
When a teacher elects to tell us about an event or an historical figure, he/she edits. Sometimes it is a matter of time constraints. But often it is a matter of what the teacher or the authors of textbooks think is important. Multi-cultural history is a case in point. During desegregation, few white schools taught any African-American history or literature. In fact there remain places in this country where little attention if given to various ethnic or racial groups who played a role in the history of America.
Bravo to your voting on Feb 1!!! Keep voting every chance you get. Encourage your peers to vote.
You mention the Japanese-American internment. What do you think about the current detention of people at Guantanamo? Particularly those who have been detained for years without any representation?
Freedom is fragile. It cannot be taken for granted. You seem to understand this.
I encourage you to look for neglected areas where freedoms are denied or hindered.
Stay vigilant!! Keep fighting for freedom.
I think that bias and slant does not go unrecognized as much as one may think. I have had objective history teachers because they teach both sides of the argument. When a book is written by a Republican, and the teacher is a die hard Democrat, then it is easy to see both sides of the argument. A good objective teacher is one that presents both sides of the historical argument and makes it clear that he/she may support one side but still wants students to see both sides. I have studied history from many different sources and continue to study it. That is the reason I am taking A.P. Language, too; so, I am not easily manipulated. Learning history, for me, extends far beyond the classrooms. I watch the history channel and listen to interviews with people from other countries and read documents from other countries. It is easy, then to see the similarities and differences form country to country and person to person. I understand that there are always little slants and bias; however, I like to think that my extensive research into subjects helps to keep me from being manipulated.
It is difficult to talk about people be detained at Guantanamo Bay because they are not technically citizens of the country. They are also involved in terrorism, which is a heated debate. I look back at the Civil War, though, because of Lincoln's suspended the writ of habeaus corpus. He did so in the border states to help suppress anyone who was thinking about rebelling and tried to keep the border states on the side of the Union. Lincoln did this for what he saw as being the best for the country. I like to think that whenever a leader suppressing a right like this, it is for the best of the country. It may turn out not to be, but only time will tell this, as it did in Lincoln's case.
You write, "It is difficult to talk about people be detained at Guantanamo Bay because they are not technically citizens of the country. They are also involved in terrorism, which is a heated debate."
The point is, it has not been proven that all the detainees are involved in terrorism. Even if they were, they still have rights.
Lincoln's actions were not necessarily right.
I think that you brought up several intelligent points, especially when pointing out that while you believe everything this country stands for you acknowledge that it is not perfect. You also showed the diversity of the country through aspects of religion, yet unified it all under freedom. Well done.
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