Land Of Freedom

The United States is seen as the Land of the free, full of many opportunities. Freedom is defined as the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. It is one of the highest values a person can have. Americans praise their freedom and feel protected knowing that they have this privilege in their hands. It is something that should not be taken advantage of. However, many people fail to realize that the so called “Land of the Free” that we live in today might not be what it seems. In Jacob G. Hornberger’s article Government Imperils Freedom (2009), he argues that Americans are “living what might be called a “life of the lie” – a life of deception.” Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of

the press are some of the examples of Americas most valued symbols. However, these symbols are not completely free since, there are limits for those who take advantage of these rights. For example, Social media has become society’s number one way of communicating and interacting with others. Sites like Facebook and Twitter are typically used to voice opinions. However, these sites do not tolerate content that may seem offensive or obscene and if they do believe the content is inappropriate they have the right to delete or censor the content. This is just a small example of how our nations freedom is not always free.
Throughout history individuals have fought strong for their freedom. Many countries have gone through protests, wars, and battles to earn the freedom they deserve. This is why many people today are proud to live in a land full of opportunities where they feel safe and comfortable to practice what they preach. In middle eastern countries or third world countries, people are prosecuted for simply voicing their opinions. These individuals live in fear and with little to no opportunity to grow. The United States, however, promises its citizens the right to life and liberty. Therefore, many immigrants travel to the US looking for a safe and better life.
Government Imperils Freedom, is an article that argues over the fact that America is not as free as it may seem. Jacob G. Hornberger states that Americans have been manipulated into thinking that our nation is built on freedom and free enterprise, and instead we are living in a cruel and harsh economy/society. Hornberger (2009) claims:
If Americans were to finally confront the reality of what has happened to their country, they would choose the principles of economic liberty that are their heritage rather than the socialist principles of "freedom" that were later imported to their nation. But in order to make such a conscious choice, they first have to confront the reality of what has happened to their country in the name of "saving freedom and free enterprise.”
The importance of freedom is the ability to have your voice heard by others about your opinions.

One way of showing the importance of freedom is by giving examples of how one might not have it. Take for instance, someone that has a disability and is blind. They are not as equally free to walk around the streets enjoying everyday life. These individuals can feel trapped and may not be as independent as they wish they could be. Having freedom is being able to act, speak or do things without being held back by anyone. There is no such thing as complete freedom, every freedom has its limits. If there were no limits to regulate the amount of freedom people shall receive, everything would be chaos. Throughout the world many countries have written fine documents to defend their right of freedom. The U.S has a section in the Constitution called the “Bill of Rights” which is a section that include the amendments specifying all the freedoms a US citizen shall receive. The most “Well Known” rights are: freedom of Speech, freedom of Religion, freedom of the Press and freedom to Petition the Government. People believe that the first amendment is the most important because, it allows individuals to practice any religion they desire without anybody restricting them or being told what religion they should follow or practice. Freedom of speech is also included in the same amendment, and it is also important due to the fact that it means that people have the right to speak up on what they believe in and have the right to give their own opinions. One of the most influential right is freedom of the Press. People are able to write on social media their opinions on different topics and everyone can see what their opinion is. It is the most influential since, anyone can start an argument on the internet and any one can join to express their feelings. According to Philosopher Wendell Kenckel (2011), “freedom is important because the ultimate perceiving conscious principle of yourself, is

free by nature, but could believe itself to be bound by states of the mind and confinement of the body, when there is physical and mental freedom it is a reflection of its true nature and there is happiness.”
Happiness is vitally important and it is something that humans strive for in everyday life.
Being happy leaves individuals feeling healthier in a both physical and mental state. A happy life results in a more successful life. According to Durham (2017), “The fundamental reason why happiness is so important is that it’s extremely vital to our own goals in life and can help us achieve many other cherished personal ambitions and goals.” Freedom and Happiness may seem like two diverse things; however, both are a result of one another. Freedom allows a person to reach for their desired goals. Lack of personal freedom can result in an unhappy life.
Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin, is a great example that illustrates how one’s
personal freedom and happiness are essential to one’s well-being. At the beginning of the story, Louise Mallard is told that her husband Brently Mallard has died in a railroad disaster. Louise suffers from heart trouble therefore, her Sister Josephine, tells her the news as gently as possible. The news brings great pain to Louise. She breaks down crying and later asks to be left alone. However, as she quietly sits in her room gazing outside the window she begins to feel a rush of joy. While reading this short story, the audience may view Louise as a terrible person. Her husband has just died and she is happy! However, her happiness is not solely because of her husband’s death, but because of her new desire for self-determination. As she sits by the window, she begins to envision herself living a free life with no one around to control her actions. She tried to hold herself back from this feeling that was possessing over her, but she couldn’t help it. She desired that great feeling of independence. She said it over and over under her breath: “free, free, free!”. Unfortunately, this joy that she feels can only be enjoyed privately. At the end of the story, Josephine knocks on Louise’s door and asks her to follow her downstairs. As they walk down the stairs, Louise is shocked to see that her husband is alive and well and was not even aware of the accident that took place earlier. She releases a piercing cry and sadly dies. The doctors later confirmed that she died of a heart disease. Louise’s death was ironic because she died of a joy that kills. During these circumstances, anybody would feel happy to see their significant other alive, yet Louise was not. Her shock was so great that it killed her. She had already imagined herself free living an independent life with no one to control her, and right when she thought she could finally be free, her joy was snatched right in front of her and it unfortunately led to her death.
Furthermore, freedom is vital to live a happy life. Depriving a human from their freedom can be viewed as punishment. However, it must be done to keep our society safe. For example, a man who uses his freedom in a way to harm others can be prosecuted and put in jail. His freedom is then taken away from him, and he must do time in jail and learn his lesson. The government does this in order for individuals to be aware of their actions. Not everything one does is free and can be protected by the first amendment. Freedom must be limited.
Moreover, America’s independence has been celebrated for decades now every 4th of July. American citizens are proud to live in a country full of opportunities. Every country defines freedom and also practice it in different ways. Compared to other countries, the US is one of the most prosperous nations. Countries like Russia and North Korea are completely controlled by the government. People are fearful every single day. Anything they do can be held against them. Just simply voicing their opinion can get them killed or thrown in jail. People living in these harsh societies would give anything to live in a nation where every person has a right. This is why American citizens should not take these rights for granted since, it is a great privilege that we have. Despite, the US being the land of the free, we must not forget that our freedom should not be an excuse to hurt others. We must respect one another and our society in order to enjoy our independence to our best abilities. Taking advantage and manipulating the system will only hurt our society. We have the ability to pursue our dreams, speak our minds, determine our future, and be who we want to be. Why on earth would we try to ruin that?
As you can see, Freedom, Independence, and happiness all go hand in hand. They are values that are glorified. Not many people are fortunate enough to have these values in their life. With regards to Kate Chopin’s story, we can see how miserable a person can feel when they are deprived of their independence. Nobody should feel trapped or afraid to express their emotions. Stated in the United States Declaration of Independence, “Every human has a right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Every person has a distinctive way of defining freedom. What might feel like freedom to me, may not feel the same way to another person. As a young American citizen myself, it is important to always protect my rights. As well as, live a happy independent life. Of course, people are faced with struggles and hardships every day. Yet, despite all these negative outcomes that humans deal with on a day to day basis, we should not be discouraged. We must go out there and continue to fight for what we believe in. Although, our nation’s freedom may not always be what it seems, it’s important to remember where we came from and how our country has progressed significantly. We are privileged to live in the land of the free where opportunities are at our reach. Louise from Story of an Hour, did not make herself a priority. She gave up her independence and joy and lived an unhappy life unable to do the things she wished she could. This is an example to all, that if we have the right to voice our opinions and for example, practice whichever religion we please, there should be no reason why we hold ourselves back and live a miserable life. Although, there are countries that unfortunately cannot pursue these goals, we should remember our importance and prioritize our well-being. With that being said, Americans should take pride in our glorious nation which we call the land of the free and enjoy the independence and liberty that we are privileged with every single day.