Do you agree with this statement why or why not?

Question

"If we give up freedom to gain security, we lose both"

Benjamin Franklin

Answer 1

Yes. My own principle that I coined about 10 years age is, " victimization is the price of freedom." As long as we have freedom there will be those among us who will abuse it to cause us harm. And no matter how much we restrict that freedom there is no way to have perfect security. So you can live as a prisoner to fear, or as an actual prisoner. Or you can accept that saftey is an illusion an get on with living your life. Sacrificing freedom for security is just trading one prison for another. And for those who say that accepting risks is crazy, they do not realize the risks they accept every day. Anytime you get in your car you have a much better chance of being killed by a drunk driver than by a terrorist. It is the dangers that are unfamiliar that we cannot accept. Free yourself from fear and you will have no need to imprison yourself with the illusion of security.

Answer 2

Of course. The biggest threat to man's freedom throughout history, no matter what nation, has been its government. In Nazi Germany, common Germans gave up their freedom to speak and fell in-line with the idea that security was most-important. And look how that panned out.

Government, no matter what type, is inherently flawed. The more power it takes at the cost of people giving up freedom, the more corrupt it becomes. Look at nations like Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, the Spanish Monarchy and the former USSR. All of these governments told their people they were crushing their freedoms at the cost of security. Finally, people in these countries (then and now) figured out that their government was what they should fear most. Not a terrorist, not communism, not capitalism, not the USA, not Islam.

Watch the movie V for Vendetta. Sounds far-fetched. But, it is a place any western nation could end up in a generation or two when they start crucifying their freedoms on the security cross. Jesus was crucified for speaking freely. Whether or not you believe in Him being God or a Prophet or whatever. He was the Ultimate Political Prisoner.

Answer 3

yes, but if you think your actually gonna put the blame on one political party or the other you are insane. The people at the top with all the money and power control both parties and merely give you and I a choice of which to back so as to keep us too busy arguing with one another to do anything about it. For example: George Bush and the patriot act and then you have Bill Clinton with the phone taps he made mandatory in all phones, don't ask for sources, or details, if you are truly concerned you have the resource to find out more on your own and if you haven't it is just because you have so picked sides already that you are unwilling to see the truth regardless of source.

Answer 4

This statement is still very true today. You have to be willing to take risks to defend your freedom, but you should not have to surrender your freedom to secure freedom.

The answer lies in the ability of the individual to choose what and how much he will sacrifice for freedom, and for how long.

Answer 5

if you were a bird in a cage yes. but once the bird flu out it might fly in to a wall or a cat might eat it. We live in cages everyday. Its nice to come home to your nice warm cage after serving someone all day. our planet is only so big. Freedom is only so far as this planet. Almost you have to give up freedom a little bit to make room for everyone else. I think less freedom and more cooperation is the key.

Answer 6

you forgot the word temporary. "When we give up our freedom to gain a little temporary security, we lose both". It's not worth it if it only buys a little time, but if it's long lasting (i.e. permanent) than it might be worth it, especially if we are only giving up those freedoms for a short period of time.

Answer 7

Well the statement may have been valid for the time it was made but we keep trying to deny that we live in a world that could never have even been imagined in the founding fathers time so we need to temper these things with an eye towards the present and as importantly, the future.

Answer 8

Agree, because freedom is lost and therefore the reason for security is lost.

Answer 9

Yes, because we need freedom and security not only from other countries, but from our own government as well.

Answer 10

at the time yes, now no. people abuse their freedoms and take way out of context what was meant. people have too much freedoms and cant be trusted anymore to be good people. Security first.