why "freedom" is different for everyone
Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner is a heartbreaking story set in a country on its way to complete destruction. While I haven't even reached the half-way point of the book, I can already begin to draw stark comparisons between my upbringing and Amir and Hassan's. The differences in my culture and lifestyle versus theirs made me reconsider what a human being's freedom truly means. Is freedom simply the allowance to carry out our lives in whatever way we see fit? Or is it the following of incredibly strict laws and rules that end up keeping us safe from harm? In the United States, we're lucky enough to have fairly understandable and basic restrictions to our lifestyle (for the most part). We are ticketed for speeding because it puts others in harms way. We are thrown in jail for murder because we're deemed a threat to society and are isolated from the general population with their wellbeing in mind. Yet it's almost odd to think that countries with people just like us live in a state where the law has become obsolete and the "freedom" certain people managed to steal has caused an utter meltdown of basic human rights.
The truth is that freedom is a basic aspect of what makes an American an American. It's an innate part of our identity, something our founding fathers fought for and won. It's what motivates us to be patriots; to be heroes who would willingly die for our country. It's what gives us the gift of equality and justice. To others in countries less fortunate, freedom could mean the chance to take a simple walk outside without fear of certain kidnap, murder, or rape. For the girls from the setting of The Kite Runner it may mean the opportunity to receive an education without the chance of being killed on the way to school. The daily occurrences we take for granted may be the very definitions of freedom others are dreaming of. It's important to take a step back and understand others' freedom so we may better appreciate our own.
The truth is that freedom is a basic aspect of what makes an American an American. It's an innate part of our identity, something our founding fathers fought for and won. It's what motivates us to be patriots; to be heroes who would willingly die for our country. It's what gives us the gift of equality and justice. To others in countries less fortunate, freedom could mean the chance to take a simple walk outside without fear of certain kidnap, murder, or rape. For the girls from the setting of The Kite Runner it may mean the opportunity to receive an education without the chance of being killed on the way to school. The daily occurrences we take for granted may be the very definitions of freedom others are dreaming of. It's important to take a step back and understand others' freedom so we may better appreciate our own.
I find it interesting that you created a tie between a book (probably silent reading?), The Kite Runner and our in class discussion of freedom. I agree that we are very fortunate with our freedom. I also think that the basic restrictions that the United States have are good so there is still some law and order in society. However, in other countries this isn't the case like how you said, little girls being killed on their way to school is ridiculous and not much is even done about it.
ReplyDeleteYes, The Kite Runner is my silent reading book and so far I would definitely recommend it! It's definitely a heavier subject matter but still worth the read. I'm glad that you agree about the severity of the lack of freedom in other countries. The fact that kids just like us face possible death on their way to school is absurd and more people need to be aware of this. The utter lawlessness of these countries really makes me grateful for how "regulated" life in the U.S. is.
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