Freedom is Our Right
By Edgar Louis de Gracia
HAPI Scholar
Freedom is one of the most cherished rights that any human can have. It’s the ability to do what you want, when you want, without interference from others. Unfortunately, not everyone is free to enjoy this right. Some people have no freedom at all because they have to live in oppressive countries where they have no control over their lives. Men, women, and children in these places are abused daily by governments who control everything from their clothing to their movements to their thoughts and actions. We must take a stand to protect our freedoms and fight for the rights of others who have little or none at all.
Why is freedom important? Well, here are a couple of reasons.
- You have a natural basic right to express your truth
- Freedom allows you to make your own choices
- Freedom is key to a long, happy life
- You have a right to be free from discrimination
To me, freedom is a right deserved by all human beings no matter who they are – but that doesn’t exempt them from consequences. When our freedom comes at the expense of others’ safety, that is where the line is drawn.
The preservation of freedom is not the task of soldiers alone, the whole nation must be strong.
– Lal Bahadur Shastri
Freedom is not something to be taken for granted. We must protect this human right, lest we fall prey to the whims of oppressive regimes who mostly see us as tools. Fighting for freedom can come in many forms: serving your country as a soldier or police officer is one, yes, but so is protesting and spreading vital information on the internet.
The Filipino people famously fought for their freedom after centuries of languishing under the heel of colonialism. Yet some people in China have yet to experience such a thing. Protests have recently erupted against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) across China, with more than nine cities bristling with angry individuals who seek freedom from the CCP’s zero-Covid policy.
These protests started when an apartment complex caught fire and not one individual was allowed to go outside to safety due to the CCP’s zero-Covid policy. After the death of multiple individuals, including a little girl, the local government denied that the CCP’s zero-Covid policy was to blame for the deaths – but the populace did not see it that way.
Public anger quickly swelled and numerous videos were posted online showing large quantities of people marching down the streets demanding an end to the lockdown, which in turn spiraled into demands for reform in government and the resignation of President Xi Jinping.
Freedom is the right of all human beings, and to take away this right is an affront to all of humanity. Freedom allows us to be ourselves and to create our own unique life – without it, the world would be much bleaker.
Being free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.
– Nelson Mandela
