what does “They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety" by Ben Franklin mean?

Question

I have to write a 5 paragraph essay based on that quote and I have to use the Bill of Rights and the Patriot Act as sources. Please, someone just give me a couple ideas, I'm completely stuck right now!!

Answer 1

Well, if you search for "Bill of Rights", and read through them all, that may give you some ideas. The Founding Fathers not only wanted to eliminate the abuses of King George (housing soldiers without permission of the owners; search and seizure without due process etc), but also, in their wisdom, wanted to protect our rights in the future.

The Patriot Act, was, of course enacted after the events of 9-11. There are still many unanswered questions about the events of that day; it was an act of terror, that not even Russia could have pulled off -- who then "threw the switch"; who brought down America's security screen? and, for what purpose? Didn't the Nazis do something similar, in the events around the "Reichstag Fire"? Didn't they suspend the German Constitution, in the name of "Protection"? Wasn't it the case, that then elections were suspended, for about 12 years?? Shouldn't we as citizens, be asking some tough questions, about this administration, and the President's "signing statements"? Why didn't the President, follow legal procedure, when ordering wiretaps of American citizens?

If we accept a suspension of our rights, what then can we expect? Does the Patriot Act, really provide any more protection, than we had before? Is there, perhaps, an "enemy within"??

A few years ago, there was a case of a sniper, in Maryland and in Virginia, who murdered a number of people. One man was quoted on the news, "If we have to have a police state, so that I can mow my lawn in peace, then let's bring on the police state".

Is that any way to live?? If we could put a man on the Moon, don't you think we (and other nations working with us) could root out the source of terrorism, if someone really wanted it to be stopped??

Hope that helps, to give you some ideas.

Answer 2

What I'm sure your teacher is getting at is the way some people in the U.S. want to give up the right not to be spied upon by our own government because they think wiretaps will help the government catch terrorists. And some people believe we should profile people as potential terrorists based on their race, nationality, age and gender and they are so scared about the idea of terrorists attacking the United States that they are more worried about that than that some citizens of Arab descent will lose their civil rights.

These questions come up over and over throughout history, and each time there is a big threat or crisis, some people will say, "The current threat is too great now to worry about trampling on other people's civil liberties." The point your teacher may be trying to make or to get you to make is that people of every generation think that the threat they are living with is unique in history, and that if we suspend the constitution (to wiretap without permission) just this once, we won't be hurting anything in the long run. I.e., suspension of civil rights is temporary and it has to be done because it is urgent.

Answer 3

He was talking about the danger of giving up a liberty, such as freedom of speech , for even a little while, even for a seemingly good reason , such as safety, as being a dangerous thing. Once we give up even a little liberty, it is hard if not impossible to regain it. Think of the patriot act. The simple fact that you can be held suspect for researching terrorism or bombs is a dangerous thing. You have the right to research anything you want without being held suspect or being spied upon. On the outside , because we are afraid of terrorism, saying we should watch people seems good, but where and when are those restrictions placed and who will enforce them and for how long?

Answer 4

The problem is, you do not have the entire quote ---

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."