Man’s rights were not determined by the hand of god, they were determined by man. It is man’s obligation to society to maintain those rights. It is man’s obligation to their government to remind society of those rights. Just as it is the governments duty to provide those rights that were previously determined by society. In his address, John F. Kennedy concludes with “here on earth God’s work must truly be our own” That sums up both the individuals and the governments obligations to society. It is up to both to provide their freedoms. All of our readings from unit 3 reflected on how freedom is not handed to us on a silver plate. It is our duty to fuel freedom; it is our duty to make it happen. It will not happen on its own.
“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country and of an act of disloyalty toward the majesty of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.” (Patrick Henry) Henry described how it was an act of treason simply for him to stay silent. Remaining silent is parallel to taking no action, letting what will, happen. It is as if you are under the impression that god will take care of everything. As JFK established earlier, it is the people on earth, not god, who make a difference. All of the speeches were calls for action. They were wake up calls to society. It is the individual’s duty to adhere to these wakeup calls. For without involvement of the people, what will become of the government?
Abraham Lincoln describes how he intends to create “a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” What is a government but a collection of individuals who have been given the job to listen to the needs of the people and to protect those needs? In Americas case that need was freedom. A government will not try to provide those needs, such as freedoms, if the people do not make them aware of those needs. A government that is for the people requires the people to be for the government. It is a bargain of sorts. The people will give the government what it needs and the government will provide the people with what they need. The individual needs to provide a voice, they need to be involved. It’s up to the government to hear that voice. It doesn’t work if there is no voice to hear for, or if there is no ear to listen with.
JFK says to his fellow Americans “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” It is the individual’s duty to give back to their country, not only take. For by only taking, there will soon be nothing left. The speeches in Unit 3 were all brought on by some sort of controversy or need that had arisen. With that need, they called upon the individuals. It is the Individuals duty to provide the fuel for their government. The government is not the driver; it’s just the means of transportation. The people are the engine, the thing that feeds the government. Without either, they won’t get anywhere. When they fulfill each other’s obligations though, all sorts of new paths open up
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