"The power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint" is how the dictionary explains freedom, and to many other humans around the world it means much of the same. To my family and me in particular, it means much more. With much of our family risking their lives to protect those who inhabit this country and those around the world, freedom is not a thing or a right; freedom is life.
Everyday every student pledges their allegiance to the flag; that gives them the same right to abstain from participating in the tradition. Hundreds of years ago, freedom was a goal just out of reach for so many, as it still is in some places around the globe today, and from that America was born. Initially colonists from England voyaged across the sea in hopes of gaining more land for England and eventually people from all over traveled to America in hopes to gain freedom, or self-liberties.
The law of the land promises each of its citizens many rights, although ten are predominantly known; these ten are known as the Bill of Rights. There has been a total of 27 amendments to the Constitution, all giving each citizen more liberties or freedoms. For my generation, we have been raised in a country with all of the freedoms concreted and weaved into our daily lives, so for us it may be harder to understand how important these freedoms are.
Some days we may take for granted how truly blessed each of us are to live in America. The ability to say as we please, wear what we want, and even go to school are commonly taken for granted.
On a large scale, the right to vote is abused by each person who does not elect a leader for our country or communities. When time is taken to realize how important freedom really is, it can be learned that without freedom, our personal worlds would be a dark, unpleasant place.
Freedom to my family means living in a safe environment, making our own choices, and leading our own lives. Freedom to me is how I live; the ability to drive a car when I turned 16; go to school every year; and decide where I go in life.
Freedom to my sisters means being able to grow up in the same home as my parents and me. Freedom to my grandma means being able to vote in governmental elections as a woman, thanks to the 19th amendment.
Freedom to my parents means having the right to marry who they love, not who their parents chose for them. Thanks to those who created the Constitution all those years ago, I am also able to live without fear of any army protruding into my home or waltzing the streets in times of peace; something my great grandma was only able to dream of.