What Does It Mean To Be Free Essay

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Freedom is the meaning of life. Each of us can think back to a situation where we felt our freedom and rights were not executed fairly. Because of it, we have realized that the idea of freedom is complex and continuously redefined by a new generation. But what most people do not know is that the true meaning of freedom can only be understood by those who are familiar with the past and understand the human nature. Freedom provides the ability for people to speak, act, and believe without certain restrictions.
Freedom is not slavery or captivity. It is not being under the rule of a master and doing what is asked. That is an example of negative freedom which prevents one from doing what they want when they want. Freedom is the state of being able to act without hindrance or restraint, liberty of action. So in contrast positive freedom allows a man to shape his own life, define a purpose in life, and act instead of …show more content…
While there is no such thing as absolute freedom, there are requirements that compromise between the rights of the individual and the goals of the nation as a whole. Therefore, there are many laws and judicial obligations regarding the main idea of freedom and how it is to be practiced. Recently, in the United States, same-sex marriage was declared legal by the U.S. Supreme Court. Now, being a nation founded on God it is somewhat of a contradiction. A few weeks ago, Kim Davis, a country clerk of Rowan County, Kentucky, took a stand for her faith. After defying a federal court order to issue a same-sex marriage license she was jailed for contempt of court. Her reasoning was “acting under God’s authority.” So the questions that follow are where is Kim Davis’s freedom? How is she being mistreated and forced to do something against her belief? Those questions can be answered by the simple fact that there is no absolute freedom. The law has overpowered her right to make her own decision at that
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