Free Essays on Freedom

The first view we get from Douglass is as a small boy, without a birthday, father, or any sort of identity. â€Å"I have no accurate knowledge of my age †¦ A want of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood.† (p. 39) Learning and knowledge make all the difference in the world, as Frederick Douglass proves by changing himself from a slave to a widely respected writer. You can’t judge a book by its cover, if you look within the person you will see someone unique and through learning a world of difference is made. The main focus of this essay are the many struggles Douglass came upon through slavery and strategies on how he overcome them. In times of severe emotional and physical abuse, most people turn to their families for support. Frederick Douglass was subjected to emotional and physical abuse. Slaves were property of the slave owner, so, the slaves were continuously traded and families were constantly broken up. Having few blood ties to turn to, Douglass had to find other means of creating a family that would help him deal with the daily issues of slavery. Slavery destroyed any attempt towards having a normal family but he tried to create a family in different ways in order to survive his own conditions. Since his family was torn apart disrupted by slavery at very early age he had to form a family. Douglass never knew who his father was; though he heard about the possibility that his master might be his father. He had been torn from his mother’s arms when he was twelve months old and was taken to a plantation. Douglass’s only memory of his mother, who died when he was seven, was a memory of her walk ing twelve miles to tuck him in at night. His only family that remained for him to look to for comfort was his grandmother and his Aunt Hester. He lived with his grandmother on the edge of the plantation. His grandmother was put to raise the children of the younger women. It was impossi... Free Essays on Freedom Free Essays on Freedom Anytime a person writes an opinion on anything to do with September 11, there is always room for controversial issues that tag along. Declan McCullagh wrote a piece on how national security overrides America’s personal liberties in time of war and McCullagh believes that â€Å"During all major wars, the government restricted Americans’ civil liberties in the name of quelling dissent, silencing criticism of political decisions and reserving national security† (535). He gives examples that support his claim, examples that are very supportive, though he doesn’t state his stand on the issue. He uses moral equivalence, a very good argumentative defense, to convince his readers of his belief. He compares all the past wars with his belief on how personal liberties have been affected, and proves them throughout his essay. McCullagh gives examples from all of America’s major wars (the Civil War, WWI, and WWII) and shows how personal liberties of Americans were in fact affected. Though he doesn’t state whether or not he agrees with the matters he speaks about, he does prove through his examples that the event has actually happened and the personal liberties were indeed affected. His best argument in my eyes is his statement about WWII. Executive order 9066 authorized President Roosevelt and the military to remove Japanese-Americans from Americas west coast, home to America’s military bases. As unfair and judgmental that may seem, this act was kept silent until years after the war (537). The personal liberties given to the people of this country are protected by the Constitution of the United States. But at time of war, should congress or the President have the authority to alienate a certain race of people for safety while breaking the rules of war set by our forefathers? Like I said above, anytime a person writes about September 11, or any war for that matter, there is always room for a contradiction in any opinion. McCullagh s... Free Essays on Freedom Government’s Opinion of Freedom Vs. The Definition of Freedom In the song â€Å"God Bless the U.S.A.,† the lyrics are â€Å"I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free, and I won’t forget the men who died that gave that right to me.† Many years ago, our four fathers put together the Constitution in order to insure us that we are and always will be free. What does freedom actually mean? Freedom means carrying out ones own actions without coercion or constraint by necessity or circumstances. Today the government’s opinions of freedom share some of the same characteristics as the definition, but their opinions have too many limitations to actually classify our country as completely free. The First Amendment of the Constitution was written to guarantee one’s freedom of religion. This amendment prohibits congress from setting up or supporting an official church. In addition, it forbids congress from passing laws limiting worship. The First Amendment states that congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Although this may be true, this does not mean that all religious practices must be allowed. In fact, congress prohibits multitudinous amounts of religious worship. Religious ceremonies of cults, worshiping the devil in prison, and acts similar to the Klu Klux Klan are exceptionally forbidden. For example, Mormons believed that it was a man’s duty to have more than one wife; still the Supreme Court ruled that Mormons had to obey the laws forbidding that practice. The First Amendment also guarantees freedom of speech. It says that congress shall make no law abiding the freedom of speech, or of press; or the right to peacefully assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Nevertheless, the government still manages to limit our country from some protected speech. Often, the time, place, and manner are re... Free Essays on Freedom The first view we get from Douglass is as a small boy, without a birthday, father, or any sort of identity. â€Å"I have no accurate knowledge of my age †¦ A want of information concerning my own was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood.† (p. 39) Learning and knowledge make all the difference in the world, as Frederick Douglass proves by changing himself from a slave to a widely respected writer. You can’t judge a book by its cover, if you look within the person you will see someone unique and through learning a world of difference is made. The main focus of this essay are the many struggles Douglass came upon through slavery and strategies on how he overcome them. In times of severe emotional and physical abuse, most people turn to their families for support. Frederick Douglass was subjected to emotional and physical abuse. Slaves were property of the slave owner, so, the slaves were continuously traded and families were constantly broken up. Having few blood ties to turn to, Douglass had to find other means of creating a family that would help him deal with the daily issues of slavery. Slavery destroyed any attempt towards having a normal family but he tried to create a family in different ways in order to survive his own conditions. Since his family was torn apart disrupted by slavery at very early age he had to form a family. Douglass never knew who his father was; though he heard about the possibility that his master might be his father. He had been torn from his mother’s arms when he was twelve months old and was taken to a plantation. Douglass’s only memory of his mother, who died when he was seven, was a memory of her walk ing twelve miles to tuck him in at night. His only family that remained for him to look to for comfort was his grandmother and his Aunt Hester. He lived with his grandmother on the edge of the plantation. His grandmother was put to raise the children of the younger women. It was impossi...