Political Science Essay Sample: The Cost of Freedom

Civilizations world over have a particular clamor for self-control and freedom. Nonetheless, various factors have historically and contemporarily proven to be impediments to the attainment of this desired sense of autonomy. In most cases, the limitations to the achievement of the sovereignty of societies have spurred up aggressions and even military interventions. Individuals and groups of people use different approaches including political lobbying, non-violent and violent actions, influencing policy making, and military struggles to preserve fundament ideas of the society. Despite the fact that the apparent freedom is pervasive that every member of the community embraces it, its underneath costs may be so immense that include the loss of individual lives as they struggle to free their people from the whims of suppression, discrimination, and totalitarianism.

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During his Gettysburg address, President Abraham Lincoln noted that many men and women veterans have contributed to the safeguarding of American freedom and sovereignty. He said, brave men, living and dead, who struggled here The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here (Lincoln & Bixby, 1991). Long after the founding of America as a state, it had to contend with various challenges including racial discrimination, gender bias, economic suppressions, and repressions that threatened to break the union. It took the interventions of visionary leaders such as Abraham Lincoln who initiated the Emancipation Proclamation thus introducing the aspect of an integrated society (Marsh, 2002). He believed that though America was diverse, this diversity would be its important source of strength thus a need to embrace everyone.

President John F. Kennedy is another leader whose vehement stands for the liberties of Americans especially the suppressed black Americans reasonably caused his assassination as espoused in the conspiracy theory. According to the neo-liberal schools of thought, Kennedy understood that it is the content of character and ability that defines humanity, Therefore, racial sentiments were any invoked by divisive forces. In essence, the quest for freedom implies having the audacity to overcome the forces of status quo to attain a position that is not necessarily popular but moral.

In the era of extreme racism in America Martin Luther King Jnr, though lacking the political power but having a moral motivation and citizen support, pioneered the civil resistant movements that culminated in a free America for all. His unrelenting assertions about equality as embedded in the religious ideals was one of the reasons for his assassinations in cold blood. King contributed to the end of retrogressive subscriptions such as the black codes, denied citizenship, and declined universal suffrage for black Americans and other minority groups therein.

Rosa Parks through her defiance of white supremacy in a Montgomery bus which led to her incarceration evoked strong resistance movements in America which turned its history (Marsh, 2002). Moreover, every year, countries, especially the United States of America and regional military organizations send veterans to volatile regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan to free them of terror groups. Some of the veterans die on the battlefield or are wounded thus becoming incapacitated permanently. The underlying motivation to venture into the noble work of the military is to safeguard internal freedoms and outside interests of the countries from where the soldiers come.

Many women initiated the feminist movements that ushered in an era of advancement in equal employment, property, and suffrage rights for the formerly relegated sex. The women activists believed in the equality of every person. They strongly conceived that women too can contribute to redefining of socio-political and economic affairs of their environments. Some of the women had to overcome hostile male dominated political aggressions and societal taunting to liberate other voiceless women in the society (Chafe, 1978). Some of the strong women who influenced the feminist movement include Susan B. Anthony, Kristina Kirk, and Alice Paul among serval others. The men and women who venture into risky activities ae not only visionary but selfless. They often do not benefit from the courses they pursue since most of the die before the success comes but when it is attained, the other people benefit.

ReferencesChafe, W. H. (1978). Women and Equality: Changing Patterns in American culture (Vol. 531). Oxford University Press on Demand.

Lincoln, A., & Bixby, L. P. (1991). Address delivered at the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg, November 19, 1863. Lincoln Memorial Company.

Marsh, C. (2002). The Civil Rights Movement as Theological drama-interpretation and application. Modern Theology, 18(2), 231-250.