A bird that is not imprisoned in a coop, that can fly in the blue sky and soar above the mountains, means freedom. A deer that runs through a field without fear of a waiting hunter, means freedom, but are humans free to soar in the blue sky or run through a field?
At every step of life, human beings need freedom, because freedom is a significant and fundamental need of a person in a community. Freedom is the natural right of every human being, and means a person can choose, decide, and act according to their own will, without being under pressure, coercion or any rules. Islam has stated: “Humans are naturally free and Allah creates them free”. What is the major concept of freedom? And what does it exactly mean for humans?
This essay discusses different types of freedom that include: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, political freedom, and social freedom. What is the effect of all these freedoms in our personal and social life? How does the lack of these freedoms negatively affect people’s social life and ultimately a country?
The fundamental freedom a person can have is freedom of speech, it is very beautiful that a person can express their feelings, thoughts, and speech without any fear. Freedom of speech has a significant role in every human’s life, not only in life but also in social media. People should have freedom of speech and a place to express their feelings, thoughts, and speech freely, regarding every subject, political or social. It is worth mentioning that every freedom has its limits, especially freedom of speech. Freedom of speech does not mean spreading rumors and hateful speech, but it means you can express the truth without any fear. For example, a student is dissatisfied with a teacher, because the teacher cannot teach the lessons well to the students. In this case, students can exercise their right to freely criticize by objecting to the teacher’s methods because they can’t learn from the teacher. This is one example of freedom of speech, but if we look more deeply, how much freedom of speech do we really have in our country or society? Countries that have freedom of speech have taken a step toward development and progress.
Do you really have the right to think about something that others disagree with? We have a freedom called freedom of thought, which means every person has the right to have their own ideas and personal views about life, people, the world, and so on. Because thinking is a mental process that happens inside a person’s mind, no one should be punished just for having certain thoughts. For example, I believe in the rebirth of humans, so this is my personal thought. When I think differently about politics, even before acting on my thoughts, others can’t take away my right to think. These kinds of thoughts lead to improvement and development making this freedom very important in a society.
Political freedom means you have the right to make decisions about politics. Political freedom means the ability to criticize the government or show your satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Every government gives this right to the citizens to participate in decision making. For example, people have the right to vote and can participate in decision making. Citizens who can represent their disagreement through protests or other gatherings without fear or pressure are considered to have political freedom. Having political freedom is important because people can freely criticize, make recommendations to the government, and work together for development to create a bright future for the country and its people.
Where can you feel safe? Certainly in the society where you live you feel safe and comfortable, and it is even better that, beside safety and security, you are free. This is called social freedom. In every society that we are living in, if everyone has rights such as making choices and decisions without fear or pressure means that people of the society are free. For example, if a girl can study and work by her own choice, dress as she wishes or marry with her own choice without force, pressure or legal restrictions, then that is social freedom. Social freedom means that people can live freely in society without fear and judgment. Any society that has social freedom will have happier and more motivated citizens.
In conclusion, freedom in its various forms, freedom of speech, thought, political and social freedom plays a vital role in building a fair and progressive society. Freedom of speech allows people to share their opinion and ideas without fear and it leads to better communication. Freedom of thought gives the right to think independently and causes societal improvement. Political freedom empowers citizens to participate in decision making and hold leaders accountable, which strengthens democracy. Lastly, social freedom ensures people can live their lives without discrimination or pressure, leading to a happier and motivated society. When these freedoms exist together, people can grow, contribute, and live with dignity and hope.
– Roqiare
Letter received from our students participating in our Mentorship program. Name and text altered for protection of our students and for grammatical changes.
