LIBERTY ESSAY

LIBERTY ESSAY

 

 

 

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Liberty Essay

Liberty has a variety of meanings among people from around the world. Individually, I think liberty amounts to the freedom of making choices irrespective of the consequences, preferably if they do not infringe on the rights of others and endanger their wellbeing and lives as well. In addition, I think that liberty in the United States has changed in terms of definition and understanding and largely revolves around enhanced levels of individualism. My liberties as an American amount to the opportunity to exercise free will as well as accessing similar opportunities such as education, health services, political activism, media freedom, electoral freedom and access to employment opportunities irrespective of individual social, financial , ethnic or racial background.

Despite liberties changing over time, the ability to make informed decisions with regard to exercise individual rights tops the list of my liberties. Freedom of individual speech; the right to contest and hold any political office in the country; the right to assembly, freedom to acquire and sell property; freedom from any form of arbitrary arrest; right to access equal opportunities of employment, the right to quality education; the right to access quality healthcare and the right to security are among some of my most essential liberties[1].

Accessing quality education and quality healthcare are essential freedoms for modern American citizens. Quality education provides me with the ability to compete with others in terms of sourcing for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for individual prosperity. In addition accessing quality healthcare services is paramount as it protects my future as well as the futures of my future family. Accessing quality healthcare services ensures that I am able to optimize my productivity in my education as well as in the workplace. I think that access to quality healthcare is a basic right for any American citizen given that it amounts to protection of the welfare and wellbeing of an individual. Healthy citizens are productive individuals with the ability to enhance the prosperity of their country as well as achieve individual prosperity.

In addition, the opportunity to contest and hold any political office based on my individual merit is an essential liberty that I cherish. Political freedom amounts to the opportunity to engage with individuals of diversity and sharing political ideas that would enhance the state of the nation. In addition, it also amounts to the possibility to achieve any political office irrespective of individual defects, race, and social background. The right to assembly and congregation for political or spiritual reason is also safeguarded within the American constitution and is an essential pillar for the American society. The ability to congregate with other like-minded individuals for political reasons enhances my ability to understand issues such as diversity and to enhance the calls to protect democracy in the country[2].

The right to congregate for spiritual purposes irrespective of ideologies towards religion is largely protected in the constitution. This is essential for me as it provides me with the opportunity to exercise my spiritual beliefs with regards to my religion ands cultural beliefs. Exercising individual beliefs towards any form of spiritualism is an indication of the growth of the liberties in the country compared with 100 years ago when certain beliefs were unauthorized, condemned and even punishable by death. This is an essential aspect of the American society as it indicates the growth of diversity and respect for other cultures and their respective beliefs irrespective of differing opinions and beliefs between cultures, racial groups and ethnic divides.

I also find that the ability to access equal opportunities towards employment and economic prosperity are essential for the American society. Being able to source, access and contest for equal opportunities of employment with other individuals with similar merits is paramount. This is because accessing equal opportunities enhances my ability to understand the essence of providing others with equal opportunities irrespective of the social status, background, ethnic background and race but rather on individual merit and qualifications. Such enhances the equality in the society given that people are all provided with similar opportunities[3].

The freedom to acquire property or make sale of the same has become a basic liberty in the American society that is enshrined in the constitution. The abolishment of slave trade and the ability of all individuals irrespective of their cultural, racial or ethnic background are provided with equal, enhance opportunities to access property or assets, and make a purchase or sale 9of the same. This is essential for me as an individual given that it provides me with the avenue to achieve prosperity and the “American Dream” at my expense and not at the expense and hard work of another individual.

I also think that may right to security and provision of the same by the government is an essential asset to ensuring my wellbeing and stability of the country. The government is mandated with ensuring the protection of all its citizens within and without its borders. With the spread of terrorist threats and occurrences, and violent crime, it is paramount to demand that the government ensures my protection[4]. Furthermore, I am also mandated with ensuring the safety and wellbeing of my country by ensuring that I maintain peace; desist from crime and illegal activities as well as being vigilant to report any crimes within my surroundings. In doing such I am able to ensure that I play a proactive role in ensuring the security of my family, my neighbors, my country and myself.

In conclusion, I think that enhancing my role towards calls for growth of democracy plays a significant role in furthering individualism and the respective liberties accompanied by it. The right to congregate, worship, prosperity and economic opportunities, education and quality healthcare has been achieved through proactive resolutions by our ancestors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

Bean, Jonathan J. Race and liberty in America the essential reader. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2009.

Foner, Eric. “Rethinking American History in a Post-9/11 World.” History News Network. September 6 2004. http://hnn.us

Lienhard, John. H. “No. 2030: GHOSTS TEACHING HISTORY” in The engines of our ingenuity: An engineer looks at technology and culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2030.htm

Tocqueville, Alexis de, Arthur Goldhammer, and Olivier Zunz. Democracy in America. Volume II Volume II. New York: Library of America Paperback Classics, 2012.

Walker, Corey D. B. A noble fight African American freemasonry and the struggle for democracy in America. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2008.

 

 

[1] Alexis de Tocqueville, Arthur Goldhammer, and Olivier Zunz, Democracy in America. Volume II Volume II (New York: Library of America Paperback Classics, 2012) p.46

 

[2] John. H. Lienhard “No. 2030: GHOSTS TEACHING HISTORY” in The engines of our ingenuity: An engineer looks at technology and culture (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000),

http://www.uh.edu/engines/epi2030.htm

 

[3] Corey D. B. Walker, A noble fight African American freemasonry and the struggle for democracy in America, (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 2008) p.26

 

[4] Eric Foner, “Rethinking American History in a Post-9/11 World” History News Network. September 6 2004) , http://hnn.us