Freedom over Safety

As a human race we often find ourselves caught between the conflicting desires of freedom and of safety. Though rhetoric and the pulpit preach freedom, often this is simply superficial. When given the choice between freedom and safety, society often claims to value freedom above all else, but it is often safety that we are most drawn to. Security wins. This mentality proliferates in contemporary society. From the many government security conflicts like the NSA, airport screening, and finally whole government concepts such as communism, humans preach freedom but choose security. 

            In many ways 2013 has been a year of compromised personal freedom. Or at least, Americans finally found out that their freedom was compromised. This year multiple leaks of national security have divulged that the government was keeping track of civilian phone records. The “spying” was controlled by the national security administration, NSA. On television and newspapers, pundits have attacked President Obama for the perceived injustice. But yet, despite the talk, many Americans are surprisingly all right with it. Although it is uncomfortable to think about, this type of screening is legitimately used to protect our national interests and find terrorism. With memories of the terrible terrorist attacks that America has endured in the last decade, from 9/11 to the bombing of the Boston Marathon, the need for public safety has justified a compromise in personal freedom.

            Not only has the government held secret programs like the NSA, but there have also been transparent reductions in personal freedom for the sake of national safety. This is only too apparent at the airport. Due to previous plane hijackings and terrorist attacks, increased airport security has been implemented. Full body scanners, pat-downs, and strict restrictions on carry-on items are just a few of the flying restrictions. Honestly, one of the most popular American past-times is to complain that flying is “not what it used to be.” But yet, if these security measures can prevent another breach of national security, they are completely necessary. We may talk about how inconvenient it is, but the reason that these measures are in place is because safety outweighs expediency.

            On a larger scale, the entire economic and political system that is communism may be the grandest example of our human desire to value protection over liberty. After sweeping the globe in the twentieth century, communism is still paramount to countries such as China. The argument many present against this system is that it takes away personal freedoms and breeds laziness and state dependency. If that is true, then why is communism ever used? It is because our core human fear is failure, and what we crave is the freedom from failure – safety.  Millions of people around the world have been willing to give up their own political and economic liberties in return for the knowledge that they will never go hungry, that they will never be out of work, that they will be safe.

            It is all too easy to preach freedom; it makes fiery words and ignition. But as humans we have agreed time and time again to voluntarily give up our own freedom in return for security. From private American concerns, to universal political movements, the winner is clear. It is the need for safety that ultimately has trumped, and won out, over human history.