A Reflection on American History
I have had tremendous pleasure in learning American history. In my learning, I have noted that this history is significantly hinged on the advocacy for liberty (which is often used interchangeably with freedom) for the American people. It is no wonder that the country is commonly associated with the expansive freedom enjoyed by its citizens.
I have noted that freedom is the most valued aspect of the American people. Freedom/liberty was listed as one of the principal indisputable human rights at the declaration of independence. This fact has almost always been referred to whenever any American feels that their freedom is being infringed. President Obama’s ‘A More Perfect Union’ speech is an example of this (Frank, 2009). In the address which majorly focused on tolerance among the diverse American population, the president referred to the importance of liberty as outlined by the founders over 221 years back. Freedom is also a common feature in the various wars in which the US has been involved. The Civil War targeted to give rise to freedom. The four freedoms were the target of World War II while the Cold war sought defended the Free world. This knowledge has changed how I look at liberty. I understand the need not to take the freedom that I enjoy for granted as a lot of blood and sweat have been lost to afford us what we enjoy today. Although freedom is a humankind right, globalization has made me realize that Americans enjoy more freedom than anywhere else in the world, no wonder the US has often been called the cradle of liberty. This makes the country an example to many nations that want to follow suit.
Freedom has often been marred with controversy in US history. Although the US has prided itself as the cradle of liberty I have observed that many groups have often been denied this freedom. It is ironical, for instance, that the founders would underline the importance of liberty only for slavery to be the order of the day decades later. It is no wonder that in his speech, President Obama claimed that the work of the founders was by no chance completed due to slavery that continues to tint America’s history (Frank, 2009). Freedom has thus been a familiar battleground all through America’s history. As a result, the term freedom/liberty continues to be defined through the demand of those who feel left out. Therefore, slaves are not the only group that has had to fight for this freedom as women, workers, people of colour, immigrants and even the gay/lesbian community have had to fight for this freedom. I feel this could be the reason many countries often find it hypocritical for the US to try and advocate for democracy in the free world. For instance, in his second inaugural speech, President George W. Bush was forthright about making the world a haven of freedom by kicking out tyrannical regimes across the globe (Parry-Giles, 2008). Although this could have been well intended and the US needs to help create a free world, it is crucial to realize America itself has curtailed these freedoms at some point and had to find solutions to its problems in the form of this freedom. Nevertheless, the struggles that people have had to undergo to secure their various freedoms makes me realize the need to appreciate diversity and tolerance.
Although the US has made tremendous steps in establishing a free society, the nation is still a work in progress. The fact that the country is unique and continues to be a role model to the rest of the world, owing to its superiority in terms of free institutions, is not in doubt. The country has also done a recommendable job in integrating this in its political culture. It is for this reason that President Obama confesses that his story would not have been possible in any other part of the world (Frank, 2009). However, there are still issues regarding freedom. Despite the various groups having attained their well-deserved freedom, I feel they are not free of their dark past. President Obama outlines the struggles the Black Americans and White Americans continue to have today regarding past slavery (Frank, 2009). He goes further to point out that these problems don’t have an instant solution hence advocates for tolerance and the need for finding a starting point to tackling these issues.
Additionally, minority groups continue to agitate for their freedom. For instance, not so long ago, same-sex marriage was considered immoral, and although some states no longer prohibit the practice, it is a controversial topic (Kennedy, 2017). This knowledge makes me realize the difficulties the US will have to undergo to manage its domestic issues regarding freedom while ensuring that it helps the rest of the world attain freedom in various aspects. For instance, given that democracy has existed for over 200 years in the US yet some rights like same-sex marriage were achieved just within the last decade, it will not make sense to expect other much younger democracies to make the same leap.
In conclusion, through my study of American history, I have noted that it is hinged on advocacy for liberty/freedom. However, advocating for this liberty has often been controversial throughout history. In previous periods various groups have been oppressed despite the importance of freedom being ingrained in the US constitution. For this reason, the US might find it a daunting task to impose this freedom to the rest of the world given its record.
References
Frank, D. A. (2009). The prophetic and voice and face of the other in Barack Obama’s “A More Perfect Union” Address, March 18, 2008. Rhetoric and Public Affairs, 167-194.
Kennedy, A. (2017). Opinion of the Court in Obergefell v. Hodges (2015). In E. Foner, Voices of Freedom (pp. 362-365). New York; London: Norton & Company.
Parry-Giles, S. J. (2008). George W. Bush, Second Inaugural Addresss (20 January 2005). Voices of Democracy, 122-138.
