Following a Dream Toward Freedom
Freedom is the dream of every American. It is defined as the liberty of choice or action, self-determination of rational beings, the right to enjoy privileges of membership or citizenship, and independence. The natural rights of all men have been stated as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” In order for freedom to exist, people must take on the responsibility to pursue and maintain their dream.
The dream of freedom requires people to take responsibility to govern themselves in a way in which freedom can succeed without chaos. Civilizations have used governmental law and social rules to regulate their citizens. People must maintain a direct hold on their government and society through their laws and social structure, allowing for each individual within their citizenship to keep their own identity while participating in the civilization as a whole. When people take on the responsibility of their citizenship and follow the laws and rules founded for them, freedom is allowed to work for everyone. In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms,” stated Franklin Roosevelt in his 1941 President’s Annual Address to Congress.
The first is freedom of speech and expression everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in their own way everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want, which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings that will secure a healthy peacetime life for every nation’s inhabitants everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear, which, translated into world terms, means a worldwide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor anywhere in the world,” stated President Roosevelt. The first Americans followed their dream of freedom by coming to America and founding the colonies that have evolved into the cities and towns present today.
The officers and soldiers of our great country followed their dream towards freedom by fighting and sacrificing their lives for the freedoms which are enjoyed and greatly appreciated today. Civil rights and women’s rights leaders achieved equality among all American citizens by following their dream towards freedom. As President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated in 1941, these four freedoms are still essential today, not just in our country, but everywhere in the world.
We, as human beings, have the right to these freedoms and the responsibility to make a dream toward freedom come true.” – Reference: Finch, Christopher. Norman Rockwell’s America. New York: Harry N.
Abrams, 1976.
