ENC-1101-05C Composition 1
09/01/2014
Land of the Free
As kids born in America, we have use the saying, “It’s a free country” to explain why we do a certain thing or act a certain way. As we grow up we learn and recite the Star Spangled Banner where it repeats the land of the free and the home of the brave. As children, we were painted a picture from the adults that America is a place where people can come and share the freedom. But as we grow into adults the pretty picture starts to fade and turn into a reality of how our country is not as perfect as the song pertains. We come to a realization that the freedom we thought we had was just a cover up to the laws and regulations that country. Freedom in our country wasn’t what we thought it would be as we grew up. Many realize that America is not the best country in the world, but it is equal to the other countries and the amount of freedom they give to Americans.
United States of America is a country that foreigners come to when they want a better life for themselves and family. Many foreigners from other countries have high expectations of the United States and they put us on a high pedestal. Many believe if they come to America, they’ll get more freedom than they had in their country. Many think that America is the freest country, but their assumptions are wrong. A person’s independence is an essential American benefit, but foreigners may find themselves affected by the legal and administrative limitation on their activities and confused by the complication of social interaction. Like many other countries America has rules and laws to keep everything stable and balanced.
Freedom of speech is one of the main freedoms that foreigners have a misconception on. Many think that with this in the First Amendment that we can say whatever we want and not have any repercussions for it and that right is protected by the Constitution. For example, if a person says on a social network about how their job sucks and how much they hate their boss, they could get fired if found out by supervisor or the boss and they cannot claim freedom of speech. But what few seem to understand is that the First Amendment doesn’t not give right of free speech. What it does is give the legislative branch something to control.
In addition, many countries have freedoms not possible in America. For example, in Europe in general, there is more of a lively social scene and connectedness, giving you the "freedom" to meet more people, make more friends and socialize more, contrary to the US environment where strangers do not usually speak to each other except for business (Wu 3). In Latin America, one can dance freely or hold salsa fiestas out in their neighborhood on a whim, whereas in America it would be inappropriate and out of bounds (Wu 3). Also, in Russia and many other countries, one can walk around outside drinking beer, whereas in the US that is illegal (Wu 3). So you see, there are many "freedoms" that are only possible outside the US (Wu 3). Also, in other countries fishing is allowed without a license, but in America you need a license to fish in an area and you can be fined if caught without one.
September 11, 2001 a series of deadly attacks was starting to take place on three airline planes. It was a beautiful clear day in New York City many were on their way to their jobs like any normal day. At 8:45 a.m. an airline plane crashes into the north tower of the world trade center causing an immediate panic throughout the city. Many thought it was just an accident but few minutes later at 9:05 a.m. another airline plane hit the south tower of the world trade center. Then there was another airplane that struck the pentagon. After the third hit many people knew this was not an accident and that they were under attack by terrorist. People started to evacuate all major historical buildings and the white house. There was another plane but it never got to its destination because the crew and passengers fought the terrorists on the plan causing them to crash in a field in Pennsylvania. Many stated that the fourth plane was heading towards the white house but nobody ever confirmed it was heading in that direction. After this attack many of the freedoms we had were taken away. Many foreigners were treated differently as if they were terrorists. The 911 attack gave the government an excuse to increase national security. Equally alarming was the fact that the attack allowed the demand for greater national security to be used as cover for the assault on a wide range of those civil liberties disdained by conservatives—the wiretapping, the surveillance, the extra-judicial detentions and tribunals, and so on (Pratt 1). After 911 many laws were placed on America making less freedom for the citizens.
Being an American isn’t all it cracked up to be. Many believe we are the greatest country but that is far from the truth. United States of America has many flaws from our past that can hurt the future in the worst way or make it better depends on how generations will use the history. On the outside the United States look like a place where everything is perfect and everybody have freedom and lives lavishly. But that is far from the truth. In reality citizens don’t have enough freedom and if they do get some someone would find a way to abuse their freedom and do something that is ridiculous. Freedom in this country is very limited to foreigners because of terrorist attacks and other political issues. For example, many Muslims that lives in America are look at differently after the terrorist attack because the terrorists were Muslim and that made people think all Muslims are terrorists.