Freedom vs. Order

The Ferguson case, the period after 911, and the Japenese concentration camps are three examples of the non-existent balance between order of the community and individual rights of freedom in the American society. In fact, the American society fancies order over their rights of freedom; however there are times when society chooses their freedom over order.

The Ferguson case is an example of how American society favors freedom over order. Many people in Ferguson were upset over the indictment of the jury, so they decided to use their freedom of speech to protest. The people of Ferguson marched through streets, setting fires and looting, while the police stood by and watched. The police should not have ignored the protesters; instead they should have maintained order. Obviously, our society was leaning towards the individual rights of freedom instead of maintaining order. Police allowed protesters to steal and destroy the streets of Ferguson, when  instead they should have enforced a peaceful march.

Unlike the Ferguson case, during the period after 911 society leaned toward maintaining order. After 911 the government was on alert, and searching for anyone in our country who might have been involved in the incident. In order to "discover" traders in our society, and to maintain order, the government started monitoring the calls of citizens and violating their rights of freedom! Not only did they monitor calls, but they made extreme changes in security check at the airport. Security guards now have the right to search people, and their luggage, which violates individual rights of freedom.

The Japanese concentration camps, like the period after 911, is another example of how society leans toward order. Japanese-American citizens in the 1940s were forced to leave their homes, and abandon their rights of freedom, in order to help maintain order in the American society. These human beings, who were CITIZENS of the United States, were forced to give up everything they worked for and had ever known. They were forced to change their traditions and daily routines, to pack up all they could bring and leave their homes, to loose their freedom, so society could be "safe." They were forced to change so that society could be maintained and order could be "restored." The rights of freedom for these individuals were ignored, proving that the balance between order and freedom were, and still are, unbalanced.

Freedom is a right that American society chooses to overlook. The government and citizens would rather maintain order than allow freedom to rule the nation. In certain situations, such as Ferguson, order would have been the best choice. But in most situations, such as after 911 or the Japanese concentration camps, freedom is what society should truly lean towards.