“ Everything has changed and yet, I am more me than I’ve ever been.” - Iain Thomas. This means that since things have changed we can be who we want to be now, not what others want us to be. It also means that because of the people who fought for our freedom, it made and effect on the generation it made us have the chance to be free to be who we want to be. This matters because before we were being treated like we were nothing, like we did not matter. America gave us the chance to have freedom of speech to voice our opinion and to live free. America’s gift to my generation is freedom and equal rights. All of the people in the United States or all over the world are given the chance to be free and to speak their mind when they think something is wrong or if they feel something is right. The people at Georgia Tech where protesting against a student who got shot by a police officer . The student had gotten shot because the police officer thought the student was going to attack him with the knife he had and so the officer got scared and shot him. People are protesting against this because they felt like he police officer was overreacting. The people in my generation as …show more content…
In a generation that is globalized, it is very important to interact with various cultures and people who are different from us and that each individual person lives their life the way they want it at his or her own judgement, and to keep and use the product of his or her effort , to pursue their values as to one's choosing. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution , created a country in which our individual rights to life, liberty, and the pursuits of happiness are protected and cherished. We show that we have independence by voting, protesting, creating, and exploring things we think will be effective for the years to come. In the great melting pot , also called the U.S.,anything and all things are
Everyday we have the chance to make her own opinions and give reason to our own voice. We have the chance to live in a country that encourages freedom in society, which separate ourselves from any restrictions imposed upon by authority, actions or any political views. liberty is the power we possess to act as we please through freedom and independence. But what happens when we choose to give away our basic liberties for temporary safety? Benjamin Franklin once stated, “They who give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” Those who decide to give away their personal freedoms for something that is temporary do not see the value in the long-lasting gift called freedom. In
Throughout history, Americans have sought to spread the spirit of equality, which is believed to be the realization of true freedom. Before establishing this freedom, every American had only one question stuck in their head: What is freedom? Our country received it in the year of 1776 from the British through a series of difficulties and wars. African Americans defined it as an escape from slavery, while immigrants defined it as their acceptance into a new society. More yet, women of the women’s suffrage defined their freedom as their recognition into society and for their rights to be equal to that of every other man. These different perceptions of cultures/groups in America tied together to form an American view of freedom. Freedom is something that every American should be willing to do anything in order to maintain. We may have weapons of mass destruction, but when it comes to living in a peaceful, American lifestyle, our freedom is our greatest weapon.
Particularly during the Vietnam War, tensions had been brewing over civil rights and pacifist movements, often headed by young people or students who felt that the government were not listening to their opinions and interests. With the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, racial tensions came to a head, sparking riots and animosity towards the government, who some perceived as countering or hindering the civil rights movement. The police and National Guard reacted violently to these riots, and in the case of student protests, many of which were peaceful, such during as the 1970 Kent State ‘Massacre’ where four were killed and nine injured during an anti-war demonstration. This was particularly damning as unarmed students were killed, and the reaction was immense. The Kent State ‘Massacre’ made it clear that to many social dynamics, the police, and by extension the government, were becoming the
There are many events that have happened in our history that have helped shape our country into what it is today. One of those events that helped change our country was the Decleration of Independance. The Declaration of Independence was written on July 4th, 1776. And this document was written so we were separate from England and so we weren’t under their power anymore. It meant that we were going to become a self-governing country. This was the very first big step we took to become our own country. And if we hadn’t have separated from England we wouldn’t be the country we are today. This helped build our nation and bring us closer together so we were united as one. This is when we realized we could be something bigger than what we were.
The character of the United States is illuminated by the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson wanted to build a government where people are free and where the government “derives its power from the consent of the governed and it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it” (Jefferson, 247). T...
minority to be heard is a fundamental American principle. Freedom of speech is an important
The central theme of the article is whether or not America should have a common identity. People come from all over to be together in a land that is known for its freedom. America is known for its diversity and for its unity. So why not make it’s a common Identity? Some would argue this case.
The core standards of America are founded, in principle, on the basis of its diversity and equality among citizens. Begin- ning with its Declaration of Independence, the United States distinguished itself from other modern nation-states by establishing a country of men who were different but equal. Yet, despite the unifying images America projects within and beyond its borders, the idea behind E Pluribus Unum does not resound as one might assume it would.
In 1776, the tyranny of King George III made it necessary for all thirteen colonies to unite, declare independence and to sever political ties between Great Britain. The under-represented people of America needed something strong which showed how colonists need to free of the English rule. The colonists did that by writing a “list of grievances” by stating their reasons for rebelling against Britain’s tyranny. If it wasn’t for Thomas Jefferson’s brilliant idea of creating the Declaration of Independence, who knows how America would have turned out today? However, the real importance of the Declaration of Independence lies not in the purpose for which Jefferson created it, to declare independence from Great Britain, but rather how future generations have interpreted Jefferson’s words. Ultimately, the Declaration of Independence has become a document that has been interpreted to guarantee the basic rights of everyone in America and abroad. Who would have thought that this one document could have created this much of an impact today? The Declaration of Independence still was, and still is, the most important part of America’s history because of its historical influence. The Declaration of Independence is still very relevant – it still plays a significant role in today’s society.
We have the right to any freedoms because of “The Declaration of Independence”, we can be who we want to be. Everyone is unique and has varying views on everything, independence is a widely accepted and preferred that has become necessary, but it doesn’t have to be like that all the time.
To further convince the British Parliament of the seriousness of their intents, Congress added, “and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of our divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our honor” (p.115) to ensure that Parliament knew that each member of Congress mutually agreed upon what was written in the document and that they would support each other in these matters and what would follow. Ideas from the Declaration of Independence are still prominent in America today. Many of the statements found in the document, like “all men are created equal” (p.112), are most often used in human rights arguments among minority groups. The Declaration of Independence is what sparked the movements that brought our country to be what it is today, and continues to remind Americans of the foundation that this country was founded on, which is why it is an important part of our nation’s
Values some take for granted within this society today were ignored wholesale by a tyrannical colonial authority, and the people of this land rose up, shook off the chains of oppression, and set out to devise a new governmental system under which they could live rather freely. In his iconic “Four Freedoms” speech, America’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, outlined said values, stating that all should enjoy “freedom of speech and expression...freedom...to worship God in [their] own way” and “ a healthy peacetime life” (46). The importance of the concept of free speech and equality to the American identity cannot be understated, as it truly the foundation upon which much of this society rests. In the United states, it is instilled in us that from birth each human is bestowed with the same freedoms as all others. However, time and time again, people are denied these freedoms on the basis of skin color, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. Luckily, when such situations arise, the core belief that each and every person is owed liberty motivates the citizens of this nation to exercise their rights. With this in mind they speak out, or fight, against injustice, to take a further step towards making that dream of equality and a “healthy peacetime life” for all a
What is the Declaration of Independence? The declaration of independence states that all individuals have inalienable rights, requiring life, liberty, and property, a document by which the thirteen colonies proclaimed their independence from Great Britain. If these rights are not protected, people have the right to abolish the government and institute a new one that is willing to secure those rights and their happiness. The declaration was written by Jefferson when he had the vision that America should be liberal. While liberals wanted to over through the government, conservatives believed that not every person should receive the same privilege, not every person is the same and therefore, not every person should be created equal. America is viewed as a liberal state. Thomas Jefferson once said, “When the people fear the government, there is tyranny, when the government fears the people, there is liberty.” This was the strongest reason for the people to bear arms, so that they can be protected from tyranny in the government. People wanted their independence.
American freedom has faced many tribulations, especially throughout the slavery, segregation, and women’s suffrage eras. However, the ideological belief of individual freedom has always triumphed. From when the first Pilgrim stepped onto American soil to the present day America has been run by a democracy and the freedom that system of government allows its peoples to have. “Americans share a common identity grounded in the freedom — consistent always with respecting the freedom of others — to live as they choose” (Friedman).
American freedom has always been different from the freedoms of other countries. Our freedoms are awesome in their possibilities. The Constitution allows for endless opportunity in changing times, yet preserves the most delicate of all rights. Early Americans were foreigners who appreciated the choices they had been given, choices including immigration, religion, speech, and suffrage. There are alternatives to what we know in America as freedom, but throughout the history of the world, none has come close to creating and maintaining a country of satisfied individuals.