LIBERTY IS GROWTH
Liberty is a magic concept that has inspired millions to revolt and the history of mankind is
nothing but the story of liberty. The celebrated French philosopher Rousseau on the eve of the
French Revolution of 1789 made a historic declaration “Man is born free but is everywhere in
chains”. It is a concept with magical touch for which people still prefer to die. Being obsessed by the
blood bath of French Revolution Romain (Madam) Roland went to the Statue of Liberty and said
“Liberty, how many crimes are committed in thy name”. The fight of the Americans against British
imperialism, the French Revolution of 1789 against the Bourbon king, the Proletarian Revolution of
1917 against the Czarist regime, India’s freedom struggle, and Dr. Nelson Mandela’s ceaseless fight
against the White Regime, etc. are few instances to highlight the craze for liberty.
The English word ‘liberty’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Liber’ which means free. Thus,
the etymological or the literal meaning of liberty is ‘doing what one desires. But this fails to satisfy
the spirit of this concept. From time to time this concept has been variously interpreted to give it
varied meanings Liberty can be enjoyed only in a society and there would be no liberty if there is no
society. Alexander Selkirk, the sailor who was banished in a lonely island, was denied of liberty as
there was no human society. Thus, liberty can be enjoyed in a congenial social atmosphere. ]
To me freedom means living in the present and doing what you want to do our freedom is
defined in different aspects and cultures .Everyone wants to be free and independent .I think
freedom is important to everyone because freedom means to be able to learn from mistakes. If I
didn’t have freedom, I would have to do what the authorities tell me to do. I don’t have any room
for mistakes so it would be harder to learn about life.And some people think that freedom is the
right to walk in any place he/she wants .I say that freedom is the right to say everything he or she
wants without the fear on being punished. One can say that freedom is the right to choose the
government in any way.I think freedom is the right to do and speak everything you want.
In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), freedom of speech falls under the
Article 19 which is the freedom of opinion and expression. It protects one’s freedom ‘to hold
opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any
media and regardless of frontiers’ (The United Nations, 1948). Article 19(2) of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) adds that the freedom of expression could be ‘either
orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of his choice’. Besides
being an individual’s fundamental liberty of expression, Santa Clara University School of Law
Professor Russell W. Galloway (1991) states that free speech is the ‘matrix of all other freedoms’.
Galloway explains that free speech is the underlying foundation of a democratic government and
allows discussions on important issues and provides access to information which develops an
informed society and encourages the prevailing of truth.
Freedom in the teen years is very important for building a good character and stable
personality.Teens want to hang around with friends ,do whatever they like, or do not like.They want
to experience every thing.If they are given freedom with no limits ,they can go down to the base and
may be lost.So we must watch their behaviour,teach them to do what is right and leave what is
wrong.Such supervision is,generally not considered a limit or constraint on freedom, it is important
for protection of existence.Freedom alone may lead to bad actions and cause destruction in the
society.The most important thing that we must care about is enjoying our freedom without harming
our security.In hard times, like terrorist attacks, constraints may be imposed on freedom for general
protection of the existence of the community, but this is only a timed-condition that shall end soon
after catastrophic condition ends.
To conclude, we can say that liberty is not what we think it is. It is a psychological concept
everyone has different views on. Freedom is an innate right,humans are born with.Nothing should
threaten our freedom,deprive us from our right.Also our right of freedom must never harm any
other human being ,directly or indirectly.We must respect freedom of every one in the society.This
way we can enjoy our freedom through our life.
