History has shown that freedom is not inherently a part of society, rather it is something fought hard for and won. When countries fight for freedom, when people rise for liberty, they do so because they feel they must. Whether it is a strict government, a deranged dictator, or a highly religious society, people have seen their freedoms limited to varying degrees. The United States has been built upon the idea that freedom should be a basic right. While the country has seen its fair share of battles, with itself and with outsiders, it has maintained this very ideal throughout its history.What is freedom and liberty? Why is it so important that people would risk their lives to maintain certain freedoms? To begin analysis of these two words, I will present my own definition of freedom and liberty followed by how others define these two words. First and foremost, freedom to me means the right to speak, think, or act as wanted without restraint or interference. To be free in society means to have the ability to do things without oppressive restrictions and to decide how to live one's life.

Liberty is similar except, my definition of liberty is not so much a right, but a state of being. For me, it means the scope or power to act and do as one pleases. While absolute liberty and...

Going to the school of one's choice, buying foods one likes, dating a person regardless of race, ethnicity, or religious beliefs, these things can and do exist as freedoms and liberties within modern society. Unfortunately, there was and continues to be a high cost for such freedom, some of which continues to be a problem.
Many have noted the high cost of freedom throughout history. In an article by Senator Joe Balyeat, the article details what Americans had to go through in order to gain the freedoms and liberty that have now. The article starts with what freedom means and according to Balyeat, freedom means pursuing things he enjoys and practicing values which he holds dear. These values some may not agree with, and it is here where freedom tends to blur the line. This is because freedom for one person may be restriction for another. "And in fact, even before that occurs, my freedom has already been diminished the moment I stood silently by and acquiesced to the quashing of your liberty. The downhill slide from Freedom is a very slippery slope" (Balyeat, 2014).

This is what leads to the high cost of freedom because essentially it…