Why does the USA always claim to be defending freedom?

Question

Why do we always claim to be defending freedom when in fact we are the least free out of all the other free nationsin the world?

Answer 1

Hmm.... interesting question. I travel the world and have noticed some weird things at home in the US that don't happen in other countries. I'm not referring to Muslim nations or places like North Korea or Cuba.
I.E.
- In the US you see a fight in a bar and there's cops all over the place with arrests, criminal charges and the whole nine yards. In other countries these things are resolved with a handshake and an apology.
- In the US there are harsh and extreme punishments for the pettiest of crimes; according to Dateline or 20/20 (not sure which one it was) they had segments on one guy who was just released from prison after serving 50 years for stealing a TV. And, another guy who served 25 years for smoking a joint. This does not happen in Europe for example.
- In the US you need a license and permit for just about EVERYTHING, which is not the case in other countries.
- In the US they arrest you for having a beer in public (you don't have to be drunk). In other countries it's none of anyones business what people are drinking.
- In the US ordinary citizens are crimimnalized for the pettiest offenses - even if it was an accident.
- In the US we have an enoumously big government which which intrudes into every aspect of our private lives. They know EVERYTHING about you and we are monitores 24/7. Watch CNBC's documentary called "Big Brother - Big Business" http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...
You'll be in shock. Other nations value peoples privacy.
- The US is a police state; I've been approached on 2 seperate occasions by cops who stuck their hands in my pockets without any reason - just to see what I have in them. This NEVER happens in other countries.
- I was driving to Atlanta for a conference a few years ago and was pulled over and ordered to open my trunk and interrogated as to where I was coming from, where I was traveling to, who I was with, why I was with them etc... and then they interrogared the passengers in my car. In other countries...... they need to have a reason to pull you over and then it's straight by the book. I remember being in Germnany as a passenger in a car; we were pulled over for a broken tail light. I had a rum and coke in my hands (I wasn't driving) and it wasn't an issue. Try that in the States......
- I could go on and on but there are just too many examples to list here. In fact they'd probably fill up an entire book. So, I tend to agree that we're lacking freedoms and for those who disagree..... - do some travelling and see the world first.

Edit: I noticed a lot of defensive responses out there...... I don't think the asker is refering to the likes of Iraq, North Korea, Afghanistan, et al. He is obviously refering to other FREE nations, so why would you make comparisons to the likes of Cuba????? Newsflash: Most of the world is not "third world" or "communist" like you think.

Edit: Wow.... there's so much ignorance in this country. In a way I don't blame society because we're all brainwashed with our media which is biased an censored. Really - if you look at CNN in other countries, youget much more informative news.

Answer 2

The word freedom is simply an icon, like the flag, the pledge, and the smiley face emoticon, a show of unity against whatever scares the masses, politicians use fear and symbolism to engage support for their cause.

There were few countries and individuals willing to disrupt the USA before the last few wars---now there are many oppressed people ready to show occupiers and profiteers what real freedom is about.; It is definitely not about fabricating global enemies nor is it about appropriating other nation's resources.

Manipulation of citizen's will has been popular since the tribal order of early society. The need to follow is embedded in the human psyche. Few leaders are ethical enough to govern without threat of loss of ideals. Even fewer exercise that elusive freedom of speech to rally people to the good of the many.

This demonstrates just how important it is to vote freely.

Answer 3

Defending freedom and in turn grinding it's own axe. Palestinian group Hamas won general election, as they were chosen by people, the US has boycotted the group, where is it's defence of freedom. Getting oil is major concern in Iraq and to the world the US shows its defending freedom. All Gulf countries are ruled by autocrats, serving the US interests, why people of these states are not allowed to elect someone they want, where is defense of freedom? It's just an eye wash and I can go on prove with a lot of examples.

Answer 4

It's called "rhetoric". It's also called "propaganda". It's the language of politics all over the world, and has been since time immemorial. Roman politicians consistently preached to the provinces how good they had it under Roman protection, despite the fact most of their "citizens" had no basic human rights. When Alexander invaded and conquered Persia, his motto was "You never had it so good".

The U.S. used the term during the most expansionist period in its history, when we were actually taking over little islands, overthrowing their monarchies/leaders, imprisoning their revolutionaries and enslaving their citizens. When we use the same verbiage now, it's actually a lot more benign.

I have always believed the U.S. government underestimates the intelligence of the masses. They have repeatedly used the term "defending our freedom" when "defending our interests" (in 99% of cases, our corporate interests).

In the late 1890s when the US invaded Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Phillippines under the guise of "liberating" them and overthrew the Hawaiian monarch also under false premises, there were as many famous names who decried our blatant imperialism as supported it. But in those days, we didn't have mass media. No radio, no TV, and most newspapers were owned or controlled by Randolph Hearst. Nowadays, we have a much better educated, more politically-savvy populus who can form their own opinions based on the information they have access to. I honestly believe most people see through the BS and think fairly independently.

Domestically, we are "free"; we rate right up in the top five in the world in terms of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. However, our foreign excursions and interests do not really contribute to the freedoms we enjoy. Our prosperity, but not our freedoms in law and society.

Answer 5

They do throw that word around a lot don't they. When in fact they are slowly taking what freedom we have away. I think they would like to establish a religious right form of the Taliban, be the moral police of the people.

Answer 6

Because freedom is not free and America is the only country with enough money to pay for it.

Answer 7

We claim to be defending freedom because we are defending freedom.

There is no nation with more real freedom than America.

Yes, even those useless European nations the size of an American City that have legalized narcotics.

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Answer 8

Like or not people...
The truth is:
The USA always do defend freedom.
Is hurtful truth for most of the anti Americans.
And YES we are the most free country in whole world.
Again you like or not people we are free here.

I say if you don't feel that you live in a freedom country.

Try to go another country just for the heck of TRY.


I love that you people don't like my freedom of speech.
See we have freedom of speech even if people don't like my answer I still can answer with out fear whatsoever.

You do are so funny people.

GOT IT?
I have freedom, and nothing you can do about it LOL

Answer 9

You are exercising your freedom right now - freedom of speech. Spend a little time in any third world country - where there is no freedom at all - then lets talk. Let me ask you a question - what have you done to help protect your "Freedoms"? Complaining does not count.

Answer 10

one of the most imp. reasons USA always claims to be defending freedom and democracy is to be able to take over other countries natural resources.
Best example, Iraq