Actions Regarding Liberty
Throughout the course of the last couple weeks, my AP English class has been discussing the topic of liberty. After looking at several pieces of writing and annotating passages, I now fully understand what the word liberty means. In class on Friday, we wrote an in class essay based off a quote written by President Woodrow Wilson. The quote said "Liberty has never come from the government. Liberty has come from the subjects of it." He also stated that the idea of liberty is only as strong as the resistance given to it. I don't think I have ever agreed with a statement more. Just looking at the case with American football player Colin Kaepernick infuriates me. How can a man in America be ridiculed, judged, pushed out of society and oppressed for kneeling during a song?
How can a country that is so focused on the freedom of the people consist of people that are so close minded, immature, and selfish. The government of America passed the First Amendment, freedom of speech, expression, and religion, but in reality, I have realized that that in fact means nothing. If anyone, even someone of high authority does something that society doesn't consider "normal" they will be ridiculed and shut down. Wilson stated that liberty comes from the subjects within it, and although the government gave Kaepernick the liberty to kneel during the playing of the national anthem, subjects of America said that was rude, disrespectful, and not right. When the American colonists obtained liberty from Great Britain for America, that liberty was not given to the African Americans. No. Instead, people of color were turned into slaves. Yes. Slavery was their way of liberty. The idea of liberty comes completely from a person who THINKS they have authority. Now my question is: will I be treated differently as an adult? Will I not have the liberty to do certain tasks because I am a female? Will I be discriminated against at work? So many questions, and as our nation advances one would think this would stop. But instead I don't receive any answers, just come up with more questions.
-Stephanie
How can a country that is so focused on the freedom of the people consist of people that are so close minded, immature, and selfish. The government of America passed the First Amendment, freedom of speech, expression, and religion, but in reality, I have realized that that in fact means nothing. If anyone, even someone of high authority does something that society doesn't consider "normal" they will be ridiculed and shut down. Wilson stated that liberty comes from the subjects within it, and although the government gave Kaepernick the liberty to kneel during the playing of the national anthem, subjects of America said that was rude, disrespectful, and not right. When the American colonists obtained liberty from Great Britain for America, that liberty was not given to the African Americans. No. Instead, people of color were turned into slaves. Yes. Slavery was their way of liberty. The idea of liberty comes completely from a person who THINKS they have authority. Now my question is: will I be treated differently as an adult? Will I not have the liberty to do certain tasks because I am a female? Will I be discriminated against at work? So many questions, and as our nation advances one would think this would stop. But instead I don't receive any answers, just come up with more questions.
-Stephanie
I love how you mentioned the hypocrisy of the First Amendment rights! Concerning Kaepernick's actions, I believe people's anger would be justified if they could offer a better solution than Kaepernick's nonviolent protest. However, because they cannot propose a better formula to eliminate the discrimination against minorities, I totally agree with you that they should not immediately repudiate him.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you mentioned that people are very close minded and if people don't respond to "normal" society immediately shuts them down. With social media and all we make these walls for our selves and when something contradicts in what we believe in people get really upset. People now a days people want to "fit in the crowd" but when people realize how big the questions that you stated in your blog are; the people that are like everybody else aren't really going to do anything but whine and complain. It's the people like Kapernick and the people who challenge the status quo make the change. -sujaya
ReplyDeleteThis response to the topic of liberty from this weeks discussion was very to the point and good. I like how you mentioned that even when America says that we have much liberty and opportunity, we really do not, and you did a good job showing/giving examples on why this is not true. I also like how you discussed how America viewed Kaepernick's actions and how that in itself showed the discrimination against liberty in our country.
ReplyDeleteThis response to the topic of liberty from this weeks discussion was very to the point and good. I like how you mentioned that even when America says that we have much liberty and opportunity, we really do not, and you did a good job showing/giving examples on why this is not true. I also like how you discussed how America viewed Kaepernick's actions and how that in itself showed the discrimination against liberty in our country.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you mentioned the meaning or symbolism of normal and how if your actions aren't normal, it is bad. You bring up a good point with this sentence. You also supported your argument with a lot of evidence and examples which made it a lot more convincing when I read it.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you explained how "messed-up" the entire Kaepernick situation is. And I agree that a country so proud of their freedom and liberty is so closed minded against one exercising their rights and in a non-destructive way that could not possibly harm anyone. I also like how you referenced the opposite; the Americans just after gaining their freedom, used their liberty to enslave other people and deem it acceptable.
ReplyDelete