Let Freedom Ring For All
The saying “Let Freedom Ring” is a metaphor that symbolizes the sound of a bell representing hope and equality. Martin Luther King Jr. used this metaphor in his famous “I have a dream” speech. This quote has been used to symbolize freedom for all Americans. At the time of his speech, freedom was not accessible to all citizens of the United States. It had to be fought hard for. Lives had to be sacrificed to achieve it and make a difference in this world. By Martin Luther King Jr. saying, “let freedom ring,” he meant it for every person in the world, regardless of race or gender.
Honestly, I do not know if I would be capable of doing what generations before us had to do to fight for equality and freedom. Many people had to risk their lives and were beaten senselessly for trying to go against the forces who disagreed at that time. I would like to believe I would have the courage to make a difference and fight for our rights, but it is hard to know for sure without being put in that position. If I was, I could only hope that I would be brave enough to take a stand and do what was needed to conquer freedom for myself and my people.
I am not sure that today’s generation would have the backbone and be able to commit to such a hard and life-threatening challenge. Our generation can only imagine what previous generations endured through textbooks and what school teaches us. I think it is hard for any of us to understand what these struggles were because we have not had to see them, or at least not as intensely as our ancestors did. If the world was how it used to be and we saw how important making a difference was, then we could find the grit to fight; however, our lives do not compare to those of the past.
Events like these are still important to be taught today because we need to see what occurred in history to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself. Equality is still not achievable for everyone, and it will be many more years before our world does see humankind as a whole. These issues still need to be taught and fought for until equality is achievable for all.
I agree with a lot of what you said. It’s hard to imagine I’d be strong if I had to risk my life for my, or others’, lives. Of course, I’d love to do what I can, but in the face of danger it’s hard to imagine I’d stand strong. I also agree with what you said about our generation not being up for the same challenge as Lewis’ generation. While many our age are used to online debates of what’s right or wrong with the mask of anonymity, and enduring a lot of backlash or online bullying, that’s a lot different than being threatened face to face. Our generation is strong online and we know how to debate, but if we all had to risk our lives, I think it would be a lot harder on everyone.
I enjoyed reading your blog post Halee. I appreciate the way you connected your personal opinion to the experiences that the people endured. You were honest about you thinking that you’re not the person to fight directly with the forces. It is okay to say that because not everybody is a fighter but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a change. you can use the power of your voice instead. I like how you said that we don’t even understand what our people really went through because we weren’t there to see it. We only get a filtered version of the truth.
I really liked how you wrote your writing because I feel that I can relate to how you felt about how people were being treated based on their race/ ethnicity. I loved the way you were able to write and be understanding to your audience while explaining different events and examples that occurred during this time. I feel that you used the perfect amount of information to back up your claims in your writing. Reading your writing made me open my eyes and realize that everyone should be treated the same in a way. I felt like the influencer you talked about (MLK) helped me realize that blacks had to put their all into stuff just to get their point across.
He had me understand that everyone’s voice matters even if people choose not to listen. I liked how you could compare that black and whites had to risk different things back then. You were able to help me understand life nowadays and back then and how many challenges are very different and also how many people can’t really relate to people from back then because they didn’t go through the struggles like people back then. I feel like many people now think it’s so easy to relate to people from back then, but little do they know if it wasn’t for the people back then fighting for change then people wouldn’t be or act the way they do now.
I feel that people that fought for change helped me realize that everyone should just love people no matter what because one day that person you don’t “like ” could be that person in the future to help you when you need something. Overall, I feel that your writing can affect many people in the future. I feel that it can be a message to everyone to let them know that they’re not alone. With your writing I feel that it can help people make a change in their own life to do better no matter what struggles they go through.
I really enjoyed this blog post. The language used to describe and inform the readers with both definitions and relations is very well written. I like that you made reference to the past and the present and that you branched out to make connections. In these connections I liked that you used emotions and really focused on the devastation that was caused during the time of Martin Luther King Jr and the civil rights movement. Relating this civil rights movement to being the backbone for our society was a very intriguing and well used metaphor in my opinion.
Stating that history repeats itself is a very important to enact a change in todays society because even though things are not how they once were, they are almost worse in their way. Do to the fact that at this point in society we should no longer be dealing with these problems in diversity. We should have learned more from the past then what we have to show for it.
I liked that you talked about the MLK Famous I had a dream speech and what is symbolized for America. I don’t think I am capable of what the generations did either. Many people did risk their lives and beaten badly I don’t think they should have got beaten like that. I see your point that events are still important and should be taught more today so people can get remined on what this is. I would like to talk more about this and bring this up to people that think this is important with them.