What does being free even mean? Does it mean anyone can do whatever they want with zero consequences? When looking up the word "free," there are numerous meanings to the word and idea itself, 15 definitions in the Merriam-Webster dictionary alone. The question of if we are truly free is debatable and solely based on opinion over fact because it depends on what being free actually means to people in the first place. The reality is that one person's definition of the term "free" could be completely different from another's concept of what freedom means to them.
There are many items that symbolize the freedom of a citizen of America. The Constitution is our handbook, as you will, to what freedoms we do and do not possess in our country. The whole idea that people came to America from Europe in order to be free of religious persecution and other reasoning goes to show why it was necessary to have a list of rights/freedoms. The Constitution is a symbol of American freedom, just like the American flag. "The flag stands for free expression of ideas, no matter how distasteful" wrote Ronald J. Allen in a newspaper editorial. Allen is expressing his ideas of what the flag means to America. "The American Flag is a cherished symbol of our nation's aspirations."(Allen) People within the states are allowed to say basically anything they want, with some limitations. Ronald also wrote, "What most distinguishes our civilization from both its predecessors and its contemporary competitors is a belief in the sanctity of the human conscience." We have more a freedom of thought than we do a freedom of speech. For example, a person can't verbally threaten someone's life publically and not get in trouble for assault, whether that person was planning on physically taking out the threat or not. The good thing is that just because something offends someone else, they can't be in any legal trouble with the government for another's feelings. "The exception is expression that involves the risk of injury to others and the destruction of someone else's property." (Allen) He is explaining that we are responsible for any cause of injury and/or damage to another's property.
On the other hand, while it is true that we do have rights, some may argue that Americans either do not have freedom at all or that Americans have very little freedom. For example, the U.S. Constitution states that Americans have rights, but it doesn't show the doubtful fact that both an American's freedom and rights can be taken away. The fact that there are limits (known as laws) to our freedom proves that we can't truly think and express whatever, whenever. One of the most commonly used definitions of freedom means that we could do anything we want without anyone controlling us. If Americans truly had freedom, there wouldn't be loopholes in the U.S. Constitution. One example of these loopholes is in the first amendment~ "... We would be saying that the First Amendment protects expression only when no one is offended." (Allen) A better example of freedom would be where at the least, the First Amendment protects expression whether it offends someone or not. True freedom is said to not exist because freedom is limited. According to one user who don't believe in true freedom on debate.org, "...As long as there are laws, there isn't freedom. Theoretically, to experience true and pure freedom, is to be able to do anything without consequences. It is to be unafraid to act a certain way and express [your] opinions. To be fully free. You have to be both mentally and physically free. You might be able to physically do anything, like perhaps murder someone, but you will be mentally constrained by the intuitive fear of the consequences of doing so." The author is unknown, but we do know that this person has a thought on true freedom but believes that it does not exist.
It is true and not true at the same time that an American may think and express anything he/she wants. Freedom is a conundrum because Americans are free in a sense, but everyone answers to someone, somehow. Society controls what people believe to be acceptable, which changes through time. The government is like a master and we are its slaves, and we must answer to it whenever asked upon. The irony is that in a democracy the citizens place people in power, unless you believe that elections are rigged. There's no true way of knowing that as a basic citizen of the United States. If Americans were free in every sense of the word, chaos would ensue because people are only out for themselves in this world whether they admit it or not. It's human nature. Americans are fortunate compared to many countries in the world, but the word "freedom" is a highly complicated thought and ideal. There will always be consequences to every decision humans make in their lives, and some are easy to see while others are not. Laws help keep the consequences known and thus out of fear of being in trouble, people tend to stay sheep and it keeps the world more civilized than it would probably be otherwise. So, are we actually free? Yes and no, there's no real answer that is right or wrong. Freedom is a matter of perception.
Works Cited
"Does Freedom Exist?" Debate.org, .
"Free." Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, .
"Freedom." Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom.
