Readers reflect on what it means to be American
FREEDOM: It may have different meaning, but all of us cherish it
| Friday, Jul 03 2009 09:17 PM
Last Updated Friday, Jul 03 2009 09:26 PM
Loading Stories
Advertisement
Kenneth M. Cannon
Retired
Freedom is not just one thing, like freedom of religion, freedom of assembly or freedom of speech. Freedom is an overall ideological emotion. It encompasses an entire nation and its people. It may be named in our Constitution, but those are just examples.
We don't fight and die for named examples. It is much deeper than that. It is not something that can be given, but we will fight and die to preserve it and give it to our posterity. And so many have done just that.
To other nations, freedom may be a mystery, but to us in the United States of America, it is as plain as the smile on our faces.
Don Clark
President of consulting firm the Kingsley Group, Inc.
Abraham Lincoln said the world has never had a good definition for the word "freedom." I don't presume to know the best definition, but I do know the true source and highest use of freedom.
The secret was proclaimed 2,000 years ago by an old man, Zachariah, in celebration of the birth of a son destined to prepare the world for its savior. "Blessed be the God of Israel," Zachariah declared, "who came to set his people free." Freedom first, he said, by deliverance from our enemies and from those who hate us. Once freedom has been won, what then is freedom's highest purpose? To go our own way and do our own thing? Zachariah proclaims liberty to be the blessing that enables us to "serve God without fear and to walk in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our lives." Freedom so used keeps America free.
Maryann McKinley
Community volunteer
Freedom is not something easily explained -- it is a state of being. One can only understand if it has been taken or given away. Freedom means the ability to plan for the future, living in an open society without fear for your every thought and movement. That can only happen when the rights of individuals are valued and the responsibility for those rights exists within a framework of liberty and justice for all, not just a powerful few.
Freedom carries responsibilities that cannot be taken lightly or ignored. Our democracy is a blending of all points of view from those who believe too much government is the problem to those who say more government the solution. The fact that we have an open democracy, one where we are governed by a Constitution that has weathered the test of more than 230 years, is the true measure of my freedom.
Lamar Kerley
The most important freedom, one that is fundamental to both the reasons that many immigrants came to this nation and a principle that has allowed our nation to rise to such greatness, is the freedom of religion.
Many of our forefathers fled their motherlands due to religious persecution that regularly results from having a state religion. The Pilgrims were a cult of Protestantism that failed to comply with the English state religion. Jews had suffered from pogroms throughout eastern Europe for centuries. The list goes on and on of peoples who were harassed, murdered and exiled due to their lack of adhering to the approved religion.
Modern examples of nations with religious intolerance are legion: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran and China.
I strongly feel that the freedom of religion and the inferred freedom FROM religion is our greatest strength.
Jack Brooks
Retired
All of the liberties provided for in the U.S. Constitution are my favorites. Perhaps my number one favorite is the right of self-determination because it is currently under heavy attack by men in Washington D.C., men that want to do as they please with other men and the product of other men's labor.
I only ask for the unfettered right to be the best that I can be. If Americans are simply left alone to pursue the American dream, they will pursue it with passion and hard work. If government creates a myriad of barriers to land ownership and business success, they oppress the very heart of man and thus the greatest country in the world.
Some regulation is needed, but very little. Self-determination creates wealth, employment and, in the end, a healthy economy and freedom. It allows capitalism and the free market to work.
Ernie Bentley
Customer service manager
I believe foremost in freedom of speech. Unfortunately, we were allowed only 150 words to express our views. How ironic.
Americans enjoy freedoms that others throughout the world only long for. Freedoms of many have come under attack and have been oppressed throughout history, as could yours. Even in America, some of your freedoms could come under attack.
If, God forbid, that should ever come to fruition, how would you, without fear of reprisal, seek out like-minded Americans, without exercising freedom of speech? I believe all other freedoms rest upon the shoulders of freedom of speech. For without that freedom all others are mute.
There are many who disagree upon whom this paraphrase should be attributed, but it matters not. What is important is what it says; I may disagree with what you say, but will defend to my death your right to say it.
Don Napier
Discharged technical sergeant, 298 Infantry Regiment
Freedom is something that many of us take for granted. How often do we look back to thank those who gave their lives that freedom may always be with us. I personally thank all of you.
Being a Pearl Harbor survivor, I thank the Lord for my freedom and those who sacrificed their lives so we can still have freedom. When we see Old Glory waving in the breeze, stand tall and say I am proud to live in America and I have my freedom. To all of the veterans that sacrificed and died, I thank you and salute all of you, and may God bless you.
Ivy Jean Oliver
I believe we are so lucky to live in a country where we have freedom of speech. In America, you can be anything you want to be.
We are blessed with freedom because of our brave men and women in uniform that protect us day after day with their love for this country. There is no other country in the world that has the freedom we have. We should always cherish this. I watched D-Day on TV and I am always taken back when I see these veterans back in Normandy for the anniversary. They put their lives on the line for us, for our freedom in USA.
God bless our military and God bless America. Peace.
Bill Boyer
Gas operations manager for an independent oil and gas producer
I believe the most important freedom that we enjoy as Americans is found in our First Amendment. Most of you will immediately assume that I am referring to freedom of speech or freedom of the press. While those are critically important rights, they are not the part of the First Amendment I am focused on. It is the freedom of religion part of that amendment. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." We are guaranteed the free exercise of our religious faith. Yes, even us Christians! However, these rights are under constant attack, and it falls to each of us to be vigilant to protect them, for ourselves and for future generations.
Ernie Gollehon
State employee
When I think of the freedom that is most important to me, I reflect to our Founding Fathers on that day in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776. Our founding fathers laid out the foundation for which our great nation has lived and shed its blood for. One of the most important aspects to protect was the freedom of religion. From our country's early days of the writing of the Constitution, the founders placed complete importance to make our religions, beliefs the cornerstone of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights. As the words of William Penn resonate in my mind, "Men must choose to be governed by God, or condemn themselves to be ruled by tyrants." Thank God for our founding fathers and God Bless America.
Sara Gollehon
Sophomore at Stockdale High
What is the most important freedom? To me, it's the freedom of religion. This freedom is what young America needed from the British. This freedom inspired the pilgrims, this freedom has shaped us today, and this freedom is what brings immigrants over.
In 1620, when the pilgrims came over to escape the tyranny of Great Britain, they came over here for one specific reason: to gain religious freedom. Without this freedom and without the pilgrims, America would be a very scary place.
I think we take it for granted sometimes. I thank God (because I can) for the freedom of religion and I'm very thankful this Independence Day to still have it.
Matthew Gollehon
Eighth-grader at Warren Junior High
"When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they declare the causes which impel them to the separation -- we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."
To me, those few words of the Declaration of Independence and the men and women who fought and died for this country mean freedom. Freedom is more than just a word, it's my way of life.
Kayla Ricker
I hear a lot of people say that freedom means they can do what they want and other people say that we aren't free at all, that is it only a signature on paper that "claims" we are. When I hear the question, what does freedom mean to me, my first thought is of the flag. It reminds me of what hundreds of thousands of people have done just to let me be free. It gives me the right to vote. It lets me have a say in what I think will benefit America. It also lets me have a choice in life. To me, freedom is giving me the chance to be the best that I can possibly be.
Mike Hammitt
Retired
What freedom means to me requires looking inward to what values are important throughout our lifetime. The young teenager may have values that alter as they become young adults and seniors' values often shift as they grow in experience and age.
Each of us have values that are important to us as individuals. Security, safety, family, a good job and religious freedom are just a few that people will mention. Try making a list and rank them by importance. Where do you rank "freedom"?
Where do I rank freedom? Freedom alone ranks above all others, without which, any or all of the others can be taken away.
Freedom is the most important in itself but you must never forget there are some restrictions. Your freedom of choice and action can never harm or take away another's freedom, or no one will be free.
Joseph (Joe) M. Serrano
Serrano Investigative Services
I sometimes ask myself, who would I be or where would I be if I was born in a Communist country where people's rights, as we know them, are violated daily.
Freedom to me is being able to wake up in the morning and being able to watch any TV program I want to watch, read the newspaper of my choice, attend any church I want, say anything I want to say, feel secure in my home against any unreasonable searches without a search warrant and, if arrested, know that I have the right to a speedy trial with an impartial jury. I have the right to an attorney and to confront any witnesses. But, best of all, is having the right to vote for anyone in government who I feel is qualified and capable of protecting my rights and freedom against all intruders.
