Cost Of American Freedom

“The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission,” said John F. Kennedy during his “Buildup of Arms in Cuba” speech. Freedom can mean a lot of things to many different people. To some, freedom is the power to act, speak, or think as one desires. John F. Kennedy expressed freedom as the will of the people. To me, freedom is expensive, rare, and absolutely necessary to America. Freedom can be expensive. During the American Revolutionary War, more than 25,000 American patriots died while in active service. This war also cost 151 million US dollars. The Revolutionary War was fought by citizens hundreds of years ago to grant the many freedoms that we, as Americans, experience today.

Currently, only 5 of the 178 countries measured by the “Freedom Index” were labeled as “free.” Being a free country requires that it scores higher than an 80 on this assessment. This test measures 4 broad pillars: “the rule of law, limited government, regulatory efficiency, and open markets.” This report shows that only about 0.02% of countries on Earth are completely free. For example, the United States of America is rank 12 on the chart with 76.2 points, while North Korea is ranked 178, with only 1.3 points. This shows that freedom is rare. Although freedom is rare, it is also an absolute necessity for America. Imagine the U.S. without the freedom of speech. This would mean that Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X., and many other famous Americans wouldn’t have delivered their speeches, and made America a better place. The freedom of press allows many citizens to be well informed on the world around them. The freedom of religion inspires America to embrace different cultures and beliefs, creating a diverse and rich