Benjamin Franklin, a Founding Father of the United States, was quoted as saying, "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Franklin's belief was stated in the context of the colonists' struggle for independence from Great Britain.
In the years since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001, the United States government and the people have struggled over how to protect the country while at the same time, ensure the protection of basic civil liberties. Certain rights are guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Yet, what should happen to those rights when the nation is at war or otherwise threatened?
Please respond to the following question: Do you agree or disagree with Franklin's statement "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety"? In your answer, please give evidence to support your position. In addition, please attempt to present a reasoned argument in defense of your answer.
I agree with this statement because the people who are willing to give up liberty to be able to get safety are insuring themelves without having to work for their safety. Evryone should have the right to decide if they want to have safety or not. So by giving up their liberty for it, they are not working for it but cheating their way to have temporary safety. -Adilene V.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement because people are giving up an eternity of freedom for only a "little temporary safety". If those people are willing to give up so much for so little, they don't deserve to have either.
ReplyDeleteRebecca G.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement because if someone is willing to give up their freedom just to be safe for a little while means they don't deserve freedom or safety because they are not willing to fight for it. If someone takes the easy way out they don't deserve the benefits of their decision because they didn't fight for what they wanted,such as complete safety.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this statement because one should not have to give up a freedom to be protected. Giving up a liberty can mean that one is also giving up a security because some liberties are meant to protect people and taking that away may mean less security in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's quote because when this country was first founded, we made it so that we had the freedom we desired that we didn't have in England. Over the years many immigrants came here in search of these freedoms as well. So why should we give up our freedoms that we fought, traveled, and struggled to get? The people of America already gave up certain freedom to a country that has failed once to protect us on 9/11. From my point of view there is no reason to give up any more freedom or give up any at all.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with the statement "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." First and formost, a legitimate government gives back to the people that give up things for the government. If the people being governed give up liberty for some safety, they do deserve liberty and safety in return. So again, I do not agree with Benjamin Fraanklin's statement.
ReplyDeleteMaria L. Period 4-5
I would not agree, if you purchased some safety you could have no liberty. But you will still have safety because that is the thing that you gained. I could see where the breaking point to agree or disagree is, but i am with disagree on this one.
ReplyDeleteanthony c
I do agree with Franklin's statement. No matter how many laws can be passed there will always be someone in society that will break it and shatter the sense of security. So if it takes all our liberty just in order for us to feel safe from every little thing in the world it isn't worth it. The threat won't go away it will just continue to come back and we will have to continue taking more away. What is life if you can't live it freely and live in constant fear?
ReplyDeleteJessica L
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ReplyDeleteI disagree with this statement because I believe all people deserve liberty and security regardless of how they decide to obtain it. However, I also believe that no one should have to give up their essential liberties in order to obtain liberty and security. This should be granted to the people by their government without being asked for anything in return.
ReplyDelete-J. Figueroa
I agree with this comment because if people are willing to give up an uncertain amount of freedom for guaranteed liberty they don't deserve either.
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone give up their liberty for only a little bit of security? I agree with him because everyone should have a balance between freedom and safety, and if someone wants only one thing, they are crazy.-Antonio H.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklins statement because if any person is willing to give up any of their freedom and become someones slave for just a bit of safety, they don't deserve liberty or safety. If they want safety they need to find away themselves and not freak out and jump to the quickest opportunity possible. Your liberty and safety are part of your main life. To screw up and give some of your freedom to some person or busieness is just pure stupidity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement because if someone is willing to give up any freedom for temporary safety,they don't deserve to have it. They are free to fight for themselves and by stating that they would give up freedom for security, they are not fighting for what they want. A person that wants to lose their freedom for safetly should not have any.
ReplyDeleteMarlena T.
I think that Ben Franklin’s statement is true. Many people give up some of their freedom in order for safety back. No person should have to give up rights they should have had since birth for “security”. It is just like what the government started to do with airport security. The government installed machines in which security can see through your clothes.¬¬ I think that is an “invasion” of privacy. The government takes away the peoples’ rights. They should not have to “show” themselves that easily for “safety”.
ReplyDelete-Erika P.
I agree with this statement because people should not give up so much for so little temporary protection. If someone gave up one for the other neither should be given back.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement that "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I agree only because if you are willing to give up your essential liberty and your rights for only a small amount of liberty, you should receive neither. I say this because if you put your safety before your essential liberties, in reality, you are not safe because you no longer have your liberties to protect you.
ReplyDelete-Laura S.
Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve at least temporary safety because they are giving up their essential liberty.- Hugo R.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's quote because giving up freedom for saftey is wrong. What is the point of being safe if you are not free? You are not really safe, because you gave up your freedom, so now someone is controlling you. You're not free.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this quote because if someone's buying a small amount of temporary saftey in exchange for essential liberty, is doing exactly that. That person is exchanging their entire freedom, for a small amount of temporary liberty, nothing more, nothing less. They especially won't be recieving both liberty and security because they just traded one for the other.
ReplyDelete-Salvador G.
I agree with Franklin’s statement because you shouldn’t need to give up any freedom in order to get security. You should not have to give anything in order to get security, it should already be provided because it is a natural born right.
ReplyDelete~ Samantha Bates
I agree with this statement because if people are giving up freedom which could mean a lot, for some temporary safety, its not worth it. The Bill of Rights promised all of our liberties and we should not give it up for "temporary" protection. We have given up some freedom for the protection on 9/11 but the protection was unsuccessful. All in all, people who give up their liberty in return for temporary protection, should not have neither liberty nor safety.
ReplyDelete-Johnny B.
I disagree with Franklin's statement. While it is good to have lots of liberty, you do have to balance out both liberty and security. With both liberty and security, our country is more protected and safe. Security ensures our liberty within this country while also protecting us from other countries.
ReplyDeleteStephen Mayorga
I disagree with the statement because someone who gives up their freedom for temporary protection shouldn't have their freedom taken away completely. The government shouldn't exchange one for the other because the government should provide protection to people no matter what.
ReplyDelete- Bryant
I disagree with Franklin’s statement. In some situations, sacrificing liberty for safety might be in an individual’s best self-interest, such as in areas of high conflict where freedom will get you killed and even some assured safety can increase the chance of survival. Said individuals who choose safety over liberty still deserve both, but their situation might not allow it; that isn’t necessarily their fault.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, if they willingly choose security over freedom, then you have to trust that they are acting in their own self-interest and respect that choice- the same is true of those who give up security to gain freedom.
I disagree because people have different opinions. Some people might think that liberty is more imporant than security but others think security is more important than liberty. I believe that everyone deserves liberty and security no matter which one they think is more important.
ReplyDelete-Sam S.
i agree because i dont think we should have to give up our freedom just for temporary protection because if we just wanted protection then we should have just stayed with great britian instead of trying to earn our liberty
ReplyDeleteI agree with the statement because if you are willing to give up something that you deserve and need, even though you should have confidence in your government to keep you safe, then maybe you don't deserve those rights. To give them up is not appreciating them when people around the world are fighting to gain a few of our rights.
ReplyDeleteI disagree because people want to be safe from attacks thats why they give up some of their liberty, so they can be safe. People will give up some of their liberty to be safe.
ReplyDelete-Jeff
I don't agree with Benjamin Franklin's statement because I feel that it is unfair for someone to lose their liberty and security just because they aren't willing to put up a fight for both. A person should be able to choose what they want, and if they want "temporary security" by giving up their liberty, then they should get it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement. The reason is if you give up essential liberty for temoprary safety, what is the point of having either if give up most of one (liberty or security)to have temoprary sufficency of the other. People who make this decision should be taken away both.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree. If we did not have any security, we would not have liberty.We have to give up some of our rights to protect us.
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ReplyDeleteI dont't agree with the statement. We give some of our freedom to get protection. I believe that people should not give their essential liberties for protection. I disagree with the statement.
ReplyDeletei agree with the statment because if someone is willing to give up their freedom for temporary safety shouldn't have either of the two.
ReplyDelete-Will N
I disagree with Franklin's statement. In this country, we all have the right to liberty and security. No one should give up liberty for security or security for liberty; all people deserve both at the same time. If we have to give up one of these two for the other when we are suppost to have both, than our government must rethink the way it runs over us.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement because an individual should not have to give up their entire freedom in order to be protected. Especially since many liberties are created to reassure securitey. For example, the rights that are garunteed in the Bill of Rights state our liberty and should not be taken away even when the nation is at war to acheive security since these rights were created to secure our freedom while providing us safety. Therefore, I do agree with Franklin's statement.
ReplyDelete-Maria Magallon Pd. 6/8
I must disagree with Franklin on this statement. Today we live in different times then those of Franklin. We are faced with some of the greatest dangers this nation has ever seen. We must insure safety, even if it means we must give up some sort of civil liberty. The real problem is not crossing a fine boundary. How much of our liberties must be taken to ensure our safety? Also we must not forget that some rights should never be taken, no matter the circumstances.
ReplyDelete-Eddie Gallardo
I disagree with Franklin's statement "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." I disagree because everyone deserves to have liberty and safety not just a little temporary safety. It is important that you balance both liberty and freedom. Balancing the two would ensure people to protect the country while at the same time ensure the protection of basic civil liberties.
ReplyDelete-Janet B.
I disagree with Benjamin Franklin's statement. The freedom that we have shouldn't be sacrificed if we want some security. Security that we get should also be a part of the freedom we have. That temporary security that we get by taking away some essential liberties is crucial. The reason the government may or may not take it away is to ensure our safety and the safety of others. At the expense of others security you should give some of your own freedoms away.
ReplyDelete~Kyrsten
I disagree with Franklin, because that's just mean. I mean to say they can't have either just because they gave up an essential right for protection. Like I would personally give up my freedom of speech if it meant saving my life, like if I was being held captive I'd choose my safety over my rights as a person, because really I'm just a prisoner. Or like in school, I give up many freedoms to protect myself from being in trouble. So sorry, Ben - you're wrong. Times have changed.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin's statement that claims "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” If people are giving up their liberty for safety that’s temporal, that would be wrong. If someone gives up one (liberty or safety) for the other, they shouldn’t get both back because they are in reality, giving up something that is really important for something small. I don't think that we should get "temporal" protection because I believe that we should get that all the time. If they are going to trade one for another that is why they don’t deserve to receive both.
ReplyDelete-Luis Solis
I agree with Benjamin Franklin's statement because it's not a smart action to give up your freedom for a little bit of something and especially something that is only temporary! One should use all the freedom they have to fight for the rights to have more security for a long period of time. People who give up their freedom for a little bit of security that's only temporary definitley don't deserve liberty or safety because they're actions show that they're not wise about the actions they make and they don't look at the outcomes. If they don't know how to make the right chocices, then how can they be trusted with having liberty. They can't be trusted with security either if they make the wrong choices.
ReplyDelete-Alexandria Murcio
I agree with Franklin's statement, we should not have to give up our liberty for protection. It is the governments job to keep us safe and protect us. In reality, their will always be danger around us, so why should we give up our liberty if the government cannot keep us safe?
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the statement to me it does not make sense to have to give up some of our liberty for some temporary protection. We should be able to keep our liberty and not have to give it up for something temporary. In the end if we give up our liberty we will still be afraid and not be able to do anything about it.
ReplyDelete-Kaina A-
I disagree with this statement because I believe that all people deserve liberty and security and should be granted to all people by their governmenent, regardless of how they choose to obtain it. Either way I dont believe that anybody should have to give up their liberties or anything in this matter in order to obtain liberty and security.
ReplyDelete-U.Covarrubias
i agree with Benjamin Franklin. Who are you with out liberty. giving up your liberty for something temporarily is not worth it. You are giving up some thing very valuable for something you willl not have for long. if you are not willing to fight for your liberty then you are not worthy of neither.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Franklin because people shouldn't have to give up their freedom for safety. I think that because if they felt they really needed to have some time of safety the government should provide safety and let people keep their freedom unless they've done something so get their freedom taken away.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Franklin’s statement, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." The reason I agree with this statement is because giving up freedom for safety is wrong. To me, you shouldn’t have to give up your freedom just to get security. I think having security should be something that is mandatory.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Franlin's statement because if a person wants 'temporary safety' they probably want it for a reason. We shouldn't deny somebody safety because we frown upon them giving up their liberty. The way they want to live their lives is up to them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Benjamin Franklin. If you're giving up your liberty for security that is not guaranteed, you would be giving up your liberty to nothing. A lot of people think that fully giving up your liberty will give you the greatest amount of security, but in actuality, that security isn't going to be guaranteed. I think that it should be balanced in the amount of liberty that you give up to recieve only some security. I think should keep their liberties because even when security is protected, they are the ones that are protecting the country/society anyway.
ReplyDelete-Alexis Cuellar
I disagree with this statement. While I can admit that we fought in the American Revolution for certain liberties and they are the foundation of our country, I would prefer my life to having the right to express my opinion. Why should I be denied liberty and safety for my choice?
ReplyDeleteMiriam Rocha
I disagree with Franlkin. For people to give up their rights for temporary safety does not make sense. There are many dangers going on in the country each day and safety is needed more and more everyday. People depend on being protected so they give up rights though at times the safety fails. The quote is a bit mean and unfair.
ReplyDelete-NormaM-
I agree with Franklin's statement because liberty is something that is promised in the constutuion and if we are willing to give up that big part of the constitution that we fought for just for protection, then we don't deserve either. Protection is temporary, we don't know how much of it we are going to get or how long it is going to last.
ReplyDelete-Evely
I agree with Franklin's statement because we came to this country to have freedom and we have a goverment to give us safety. Our goverment didn't do such a great job at protecting us on 9/11 whats to ensure that they will do a better job after we give up our freedom? I don't think people should give up their freedom for just a certain amount of security because you don't know up o what amount of security they can give you and if its not much then you gave up your freedom for nothing. The government is controlling you for a bit of safety and you don't have the freedom to do anything about it.
ReplyDelete-Deyaneira G.
I agree with Franklin. How can anyone expect to gain saftey without giving up some liberty? For one to give up something essential for something temporary makes no sense. Our country is unique because of the liberty it provides to it's citizens. Without liberty, the U.S would be like any other country, temporarily safe but not free.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Benjamin Franklin. Why would you give up your whole life of freedom just for some "temporary safety". What happens when everything has been dealt with, do you get your freedom back or lose it?
ReplyDeleteI think that Benjamin Franklin was right when he said that "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety". People who are willing to sell their libery, which is essential for them, for a little bit of safety that does not last, do not deserve either gift. As the Declaration of Independance states, libery is one of the natural rights every person should have and people have fought and given up their life to insure that we have this libery. Safety, especially one that is temporary, can never be trully assured, so someone who gives up one of their natural rights in order to gain a false sense of security, does not deserve libery or safety.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Benjamin Franklin, nobody should have to give up their freedom just to get "temporary safety." People should be able to keep both their freedom and have security, besides what's the point in having safety if you don't have any freedom to do something.
ReplyDelete