AP Capstone Word Count: 16 April 2024 The Secret to Freedom: Courage It may be surprising to learn that the words “freedom” and “courage” have etymological roots in “love” and “heart” —freedom comes from the Proto-Germanic “friaz” which means “beloved; not in bondage”, and courage from the Old French “corage” meaning “heart, spirit.” We paint these words in patriotic colors and decorate our halls and walls with them, but the interdependence It takes a great deal of heart and love to step forward in the face of a challenge, and steady willpower to fight against it. One of the ways people address personal or community injustice, such as racial or social disparity, is by protesting whatever authority wields the power to change the laws or structures,…show more content… There is no freedom without the courage that forges it. Courage, the foundation for creating change, is the ability to endure, persist, and overcome obstacles. Whether used for transformation in oneself or others, courage is a catalyst for challenging the status quo, taking action, and empowering morality. Without courage, one will fail to leave a lasting impression on the world, let alone survive in harsh circumstances. Robert F. Kennedy’s 1966 speech in Capetown provides a great example of how crucial courage is in transforming the world: “Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality of those who seek to change a world which yields most painfully to change. qtd. - a. in Day of Affirmation Address”; Thomas & Chaleff 1). Consider all the women, Black Americans, disabled, and queer communities that have paved the way for the current state of the…show more content… Anthony, who was arrested in 1872 for attempting to vote. Others dealt with brutality and violence at the hands of police during protests, such as during the 1913 suffrage parade in DC, where women were subjected to a night of violent beatings and injuries sustained by police dispersing the parade. As stated by prominent American suffragist and women’s rights activist, Carrie Chapman Catt, “Woman suffrage is the long story of hard work and heartache crowned by victory” (qtd. by Catt; Sparacino 1). In conclusion, these women viewed women’s suffrage as a right that must be claimed with conviction and resilience, even in the face of adversity and violence. Inequalities between different races and genders are only a couple of the major sources of injustice encountered and countered by disadvantaged communities. Before the 2003 case, Lawrence vs. Texas, homosexual activity in the United States was criminalized in multiple states, known as sodomy laws; consequently, the queer community gathered in discreet social places, like bars or clubs, to safely express themselves and form connections with
