Freedom Versus Security: The American Decision

Shardé McPhaul-Holmes

Mr. Harris

Government Pd.6

09/24/14

Freedom versus Security: The American Decision

H.L. Mencken once said “the average man does not want to be free, only be safe.” This quote speaks a lot about how the average man prefers security to the “dangers” of freedom. Although the modern people, mostly Americans, claim to be quite concerned about protecting liberty than attaining perfect security. We now live in a society where the safety of our people, it’s an issue that has triggered the controversial dispute of the security of our nation versus the liberties we hold most consecrated.

Mencken’s statement, illustrates the average man’s perspective that craves safety above all else, is largely accurate. There is always an extensive majority of people who are observant about protecting the freedom we have fought to win and who are willing to sacrifice their safety and comfort to do so. For instance, when The Twin Towers fell the whole of the United States of America fell under an intense spell called fear. Everybody was ready to give up their own privacy to be protected from other possible dangers. When President Bush passed the Patriot Act, it represented to what extent people favored being under surveillance and being safe than being free from the constant stare of the government's eyes. However this Act was violating our fourth amendment aka The Protection from illegal search and seizures; as Mencken encompasses the human awareness in current society that favors safety over freedom on the surface but strives to be freed from the chains of society.  Modifying our right to privacy is probably the most major change.

One major issue that American has a problem is TSA, were we can’t even walk on any airplane without being “searched”, either by metal detectors, x-rays, and or by a security guard. We sacrifice some of our freedom of privacy each time we fly. This happens because; most of us consider it’s worth it to have the security of flying being exclusive of a terrorist destroying the plane. If we insisted on freedom of our fourth amendment, we should give up some security on the airplane. The truth of the matter is that America is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the lives of American people and their families. The sectaries of America say scanners violate their freedom of rights. However, these scanners were carefully designed with privacy of the customers. After 9/11, America has had 21 terrorist attacks, from 2000 to 2009 consisting mostly from al-Qaeda and suicide bombers like the Boston Marathon when those two brothers plotted a bomb not likely to target anybody.  On the other side are the conservatives who argue that securing the nation requires sacrificing some of our rights. The price of living in safety, they say, is allowing the government to violate our freedom if and when it seems required.  Then again, each side seems both right and wrong. We value freedom the ability to choose with whom we associate, where and when we travel, what religion we practice, what ideas we hold. But while freedom is important, so is security we need to be safe in order to live. Nobody could enjoy either freedom under relentless threat or security inside a cage. So which do we choose freedom or security? We find ourselves confronted with an apparently hopeless situation.