Liberty

Division of Analysis:

Freedom is the achievement of being able to live unhindered. It is only possible when you have the ability to freely think, be mobile, and to have options. By thinking for oneself, one can decide on their viewpoints and what actions they want to partake in. This leads to the ability to be mobile. One has to be able to move as they please in able to live unhindered. One also has to be able to have decisions. In controlling environments, people do not have the ability to move freely or think freely. They are restricted and thus are hindered by lack of liberty and to an extent power. Therefore, to actualize freedom, one has to have these three building blocks in place.

 

Cause/Effect:

When you achieve complete freedom from restraint, you begin to feel your way towards responsibility. It is kind of like putting your toe in a pool to test the temperature. You slowly begin to find how you want to define your responsibilities, and on a broader scale, your life. You have to fend for yourself and make wise decisions lest you fall into disarray. You also have to be wary of how you act as nothing is controlling you and so everything you do is of your own production. You can’t blame anyone else for your mistakes and follies. You are accountable. On the plus side, you get to live to your full potential and choose your circumstances.

 

Process Analysis:

Freedom is sometimes difficult to come by. There are many constraints put upon us; by government, by society, by authority. To attain freedom, one has to overcome the authority that is controlling them. This is done in political arenas by revolution. A revolution doesn’t just happen overnight. You need to a) plan it, b) get a following, c) find an event that triggers opposition, and d) actively revolt. Freedom can also be attained by petitioning for rights or by working through the established government in order to secure certain rights.

 

Narrative:

I had been looking forward to this point in my life in earnest. There was so much hype about turning 18, graduating, and leaving home. Naturally, I wanted to test the as of yet unchartered waters of adulthood. The biggest leap was moving to college and saying goodbye to my childhood. It was an abrupt but invigorating awakening. I was now able to live however I chose, coming and going as I pleased and ignoring the presence of a higher authority directing my actions. I began my new life by staying out late and eating junk food. I know, not the most responsible decisions, but most importantly they were my decisions, my choice, and in the end, my consequences. All mine. I was able to live life day to day, slowly finding a lifestyle that fit my concept of a purposeful existence. I was able to have control of my future without interruption. I was free.

Definition:

Freedom can be expressed in many forms. In its very basic form it is the ability to decide. This can be widened on a scale to fit a society under a totalitarian regime and politics or brought down to a personal scale. When thinking of freedom we oftentimes think of this abstract, lofty political aspiration that Americans are proud to have. While this is true, freedom comes in more basic forms besides political freedom. You can have freedom of thought, which includes writing and speaking. You can also have freedom of religion, allowing complete control of your faith. On an even smaller scale you may have freedom from monitoring. Your parents may let you set your own curfew or your food choice. These various levels of freedom all allow for individualism though.

 

Argument/Persuasion:

I believe that people need to practice freedom of expression. Don’t live in a box or as a conformist. You are abusing your right to freedom! When you conform to a norm, you not only are losing part of yourself, you are reinforcing the behaviors of others and slowly losing your personality. I think it is easy to emulate others in order to ease through messy or awkward situations. However, you are unique and so need to act in your personal best interests and not others. I find that in today’s society the media plays a larger and larger role in how we portray ourselves. As we mimic, we misplace our being. I believe it is of the upmost importance to retain your identity and shy away from becoming something that others tell us to be. We have the freedom of choice so we should use it.

Comparison/Contrast:

There is a stark contrast between freedom and oppression. You cannot have both at the same time as one that is oppressed does not have freedom.  Freedom is the ability to decide your future and your circumstances.  It is free of constraint and allows for complete openness. Oppression puts shackles on a person, restricting their choice, their expression, and their ability to determine their future. However, freedom can lead to indulgence. As humans we want to satisfy our needs, sometimes to the extent of gluttony. Some would say that freedom is a luxury as indulgence is. It is important to distinguish from the two and ensure that you utilize your freedom wisely, since the oppressed don’t have the opportunity to do so.

Classification:

There are many different types of freedom. There is economic freedom, intellectual freedom, and political freedom. While in some places you can find a large degree of freedom, you will never find complete freedom unless you are in a place that is unrestricted by the institution of government. You will never be able to commit crimes or do exactly as you please, but the rights you are awarded fall under these three categories. Economic freedom is the ability to trade, buy, and engage in economic activity at your own whim. It includes the rights to property, rule of law, and contractual rights. Intellectual freedom includes the freedom to think as you please, believe as you please, and express as you please. The rights enumerated by intellectual freedom include choice in religion, speech, and opinion. In political freedom, you have the ability to choose government and lifestyle without government intervention. Free elections and balanced government are facets of political freedom.

Example:

My dad always had a hard time voting. It was just something he wasn’t used to. I always saw it as a way to choose the way you want to live, as the government governs your life in a way. He didn’t believe he should spend his precious time choosing his representatives. I always thought this was the best way to express your freedom. You get to choose who is in power, who will institute the laws. Failure to do so is a neglect of the rights that were given to you.

Description:

She arose to the birds chirping on a brisk morning, the signs of a golden dawn streaming in through the slightly frosted window. Her wearied bones creaked as she pushed away the blankets that had protected her from the gripping cold of the night. Sitting at the time-worn desk that was filled with the telltale signs of bygone writers, her hands gently caressed the divots and markings that had given her the courage to write. The ballpoint pen felt cold against her hand as she scratched out the words that had for years caused turmoil. Down the hall, a grandfather clock emitted a cacophonous chime, mangled with the history it had seen. Keeping in the family tradition, she continued to etch out the controversial words that tended to cause a maelstrom of criticism. She wrote to enjoy the pure bliss of freedom, to see her words ripple across the pages of the country as they sipped their hot morning coffee, taking in yet another example of an unrestrained writer.