H.L Mencken (1880 - 1956), an American essayist and social critic once wrote, “The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.” In other words, Mencken claimed that humans prioritize safety over freedom. That means a man will gladly give up anything, including his rights and liberties, to acquire the protection he desires. This quote contradicts with the belief that America had been built upon. Here in the United States, people voluntarily accept consequences in return for freedom. This can clearly be seen through the citizen’s reaction to the recent laws passed by Congress.
In 2008, Congress passed a law called The FISA Amendment Act which allowed the government to track any international electronic communication between the people without a warrant. Congress claimed that this law would safeguard people from future terrorist attacks. Instead of accepting The FISA Amendment Act, many people protested against it. They believed the government possessed no rights to interfere with citizens’ private lives and especially with the lives of people who live in foreign countries. The government should never use …show more content…
The number of protesters increases daily throughout the United States as people continue to fight for the abolition of unjust laws passed by Congress. Currently, there are more people who are combating for additional privileges from the government compared to people who are demanding extra protection. A recent poll by Pew Research in 2014 showed that 74% of Americans declared they should not abandon their freedom and privacy for the sake of safety. This poll proves how people consider liberty far more important than security. They agree to put their lives at a greater risk in return for an increase of personal
In 2008, Congress passed a law called The FISA Amendment Act which allowed the government to track any international electronic communication between the people without a warrant. Congress claimed that this law would safeguard people from future terrorist attacks. Instead of accepting The FISA Amendment Act, many people protested against it. They believed the government possessed no rights to interfere with citizens’ private lives and especially with the lives of people who live in foreign countries. The government should never use …show more content…
The number of protesters increases daily throughout the United States as people continue to fight for the abolition of unjust laws passed by Congress. Currently, there are more people who are combating for additional privileges from the government compared to people who are demanding extra protection. A recent poll by Pew Research in 2014 showed that 74% of Americans declared they should not abandon their freedom and privacy for the sake of safety. This poll proves how people consider liberty far more important than security. They agree to put their lives at a greater risk in return for an increase of personal