Chatterbox: Inkwell

And Now For Something Completely Different...

An essay, that is. You see, my dear sister had an essay topic- "What is Freedom?"- which I just had to write an essay on because... well... it's just a great essay topic. So I wrote an essay, and you guys get to read it... if you want... *shrug*

On a completely unrelated note, OMGSQUEE WE'RE DOING STOP-MOTION IN MY COMPUTER CLASS!!!! AND GIMP!!! *squeesqueesqueesquee*

Hem. Here's the essay, hope it's not too long...:

The concept of freedom holds a powerful draw over the human imagination. History is rich with examples of mankind’s pursuit of freedom; entire wars have been fought because of it. However, complete freedom is nonexistent in the world today; countries have governments and citizens must comply to certain laws or face the penalties. Furthermore, the freedom that people do have tends to diminish over time, leading to a constant cycle of relative freedom and oppression. 

Humans harbor an intense desire to be free; it is human nature to want a life unfettered by oppression or an endless series of rules. Animals such as birds are admired for their ability to fly, largely because of the freedom associated with flight. Wilderness as a whole excites the human imagination because it is free, and humankind longs for that feeling of freedom. For example, Yellowstone National Park is a popular area for vacation due to its untamed beauty and the wild animals which roam free within its boundaries, and people crave that kind of freedom. This desire is a powerful driving force, strong enough to fuel wars such as the American Revolution. What started largely as a dispute over unfair tax laws escalated into a full-scale war to separate America from its mother country Britain. Just as an animal is at its most dangerous when it is cornered and in danger of capture or attack, so humans are at their most fierce and determined when they are oppressed or threatened with oppression.

There is a dark side to complete and total freedom, however. It can be destructive; for example, while Yellowstone is a wonderful location to visit it can also be dangerous and even fatal. Similarly, absolute freedom would cause problems in the human society if even one person were homicidally inclined, as there would be no threat of punishment to deter such an individual from murdering whenever he pleased. Governmental interference is a necessary function of modern society, as laws provide structure to cultures which would otherwise collapse into anarchy. While the United States of America is a country built upon a foundation of freedom, its citizens are not free to act as they please. There are certain activities, such as murder or theft, which are illegal and those who pursue such activities will be punished. Though these laws decrease freedom, they allow people to feel secure and therefore happy. Variety may be the “spice of life”, but too much variety leaves people feeling uncomfortable and uncertain.

A balance between freedom and order must be found and maintained in order for people to be content. For example, if there were no law against homicide, the fear of murder would increase drastically and the lack of security would cause incredible anxiety, stress, and unhappiness. On the other hand, if the government begins restricting the freedom to carry weapons in an attempt to stop murder, the public will begin to feel resentful. Furthermore, if law-abiding citizens are not allowed to carry a weapon for possible self-defense, fear and anxiety will increase once again because a murderer will very likely not be bothered by a small matter like anti-gun laws and the law-abiding people will once again be in danger. The logical solution to a dilemma such as this is to pass a law making homicide illegal, but allow people to carry weapons for self defense. However, over the years countries tend towards the restrictive side of the spectrum, gradually removing seemingly inconsequential rights until the public finds themselves defenseless against potential attackers. In short, freedom tends to gradually corrode or decrease as a society ages. This is largely due to the slow corruption of government, which likely stems from an increase in bureaucracy and the human tendency to become power-hungry or greedy. Furthermore, as people begin to take their freedoms for granted, they become more likely to let their rights slowly slip away.

Since freedom tends to decay over time and the destructive side of human nature, true and complete freedom is very likely unattainable. The best that mankind can reasonably aspire to is the perfect balance between structured law and human rights. While the artists and writers may look to the birds of the sky as a picture of perfect freedom, one must remember that humans can be cruel and destructive, and that laws, however irritating they may be, are a necessary function of human civilization. 

...Sigh. Pity it won't be graded, but what do y'all think?