Where do you Draw the Line between Equality and Freedom?
398264
I think equality and freedom are two very distinct and separate issues.  Every human being on this earth should have and know freedom.  Equality (as defined) can never be settled because there is always a person, a group or a mass that believe themselves to be superior.  So, in a perfect world, all people would be free to be themselves and do their best and equal to each other simply by being Human Beings.
757215
NO, I'm afraid it's NOT going to be all right.  Sorry, but equality must be observed at all costs: it has to be half left!!
644780
really we arent asking for special rights, we just want to be equal. bottom line.
100909
There are no "Barriers" that constitute discrimination. We live in America because we have a right to have our individual liberties to do w/ at will. I do not know of anyone that has been deprived of the right to be anyone & or anything that they choose to be. If there where more Millionaries then Poor people, then there should be no need for poor people.
1173210
Rights must be defended -- but intelligently;  although in some situations it may be wise to voluntarily refrain from exercising some rights for a time...\nFirst step is to think.  What is freedom?  Is it the freedom to do what you want, or the freedom to do what is right?  Which freedom(s) have you been able to exercise previously that you cannot exercise now?  Does the exercise of this right infringe in any way on anyone else's right(s)?\nSecond step is to determine the appropriate approach.  Do you air the issue in the public forum and make people aware that way, and possibly make people think you're a bit of a lunatic?  Or do you take the approach championed by Gandhi, M.L.King, Thorough, and others, which is to protest an unjust law by breaking it and accepting the consequences, thus demonstrating a mature respect for the rule of law.\nAgain, defend our rights, but do it wisely.
204031
Freedom, and justice.
511253
Excuse me, but you are confusing "Freedom" with "Being Free to do what you want".... they are not the same thing. \n\nFreedom in this case is the concept of political freedom  closely allied with the concepts of civil liberties and human rights, and the fundamental idea of positive and negative freedom corresponds with the concept of negative and positive rights. Most democratic societies are characterised by various freedoms which are afforded the legal protection of the state.\n\nYou have these Freedoms in the USA and not all countries allow the same Freedoms:\n\nFreedom of assembly \nFreedom of association \nFreedom from government sanctioned discrimination \nFreedom of education (to get a basic education)\nFreedom of enterprise \nFreedom of movement (or travel) \nFreedom of the press \nFreedom of religion (or belief) \nFreedom of speech \nFreedom of thought (or conscience) \n\nI don't see being a drug using nudist listed above....sorry.
1116365
Right is right. 'Rights' are inalienable. 'Wrongs' need to be righted.\n\n'Rights' are not priviledges. They are not earned.\n\nBut, I aggree that freedom isn't free.
52933
I'd have to disagree a bit with the above answerer. Freedom and liberty are two seperate things, A King for example has total freedom, but only when he extends that freedom to his subjects would it become liberty. Liberty is also accepting that others may choose to exercise their freedom in ways you may disagree with, and it's in that accepting of differences where the meaning of that phrase is rooted.
683473
equal rights in what manners?
134369
freedom means independence...\nthe ability to make choices for yourself...\nand freedom is far more important than any possession that is just given...\n\nNow think about what freedom means to you, and see what you come up with
172225
We're still in the mode where "equality" means giving special consideration to ethinc groups that have historically been mistreated. This generation pays for the bonehead stupidity of past generations. \n\nI'm not saying these benefits are wrong, but when do they end?
908977
Its up to you.  You can let other people fight for your freedom if you are okay with that.  Enjoy.
185331
The problem with Democracy is that we have a country based on equality AND freedom.  Alexis DeToqueville wrote that it is impossible for us to be totally equal and totally free because the wills of men will always cross other's boundries.  If you are posing a question of whether or not it is more important to be "humane" than "democratic", then I believe that you might have something.  Ofcourse, democrats will undeniably stand up and say that democracy IS humane, but I guess that's all in the eye of the beholder.  Fascism shows itself on many different levels, from the workplace, to households, to governmental issues, but the one thing I can say about democracy is that it at least tries for a middleground on freedom and equality.  A goverment by the people, for the people, but it does seem that the people's voice is getting a bit weaker than it used to be.
583447
Nothing has been stripped away from you. You still have the freedom to practice your religion, as you choose.\nThat is the commonality that separates the U.S. from other cultures. FREEDOM. There are other countries that practice Christianity. That is not what makes the USA the country that it is.\nFreedom is what separates us from others. The freedom to practice Christianity, or Judaism, Catholicism, Islam, etc., or no religion.\nThe freedom to dissent, without being arrested or killed. The freedom to bear arms. The freedom to come and go out of this country, as we please. The freedom to pick and choose our own mates, or none. The freedom to have 0 children or 10 children. The list is endless in this country.\nAs with all "families", we bicker amongst ourselves. But, as with all families, we stand together and fight against outsiders. \nAnd please don't bring up Iraq as an example of not standing together. I don't think too many people would have objected if we had stayed with the original goal of pursuing Bin-Laden and Al-Queda (sp?).\nWe're still more united than you think.\nAs far as the concept of separation of church and state, this is not a theocracy, rather a democracy or republic, however you would like to phrase it. The government should not be "exclusive", but "inclusive". To espouse one particular belief would exclude a very large segment of the population. One should never be made to feel like an "outsider" in ones' own country. Not in the United States. The land of freedom.\nAs long as we still have the right to go to our respective churches (or none) and worship as we please, there should be no complaints.
1169459
No. Freedom comes with a cost. Answered by an african-american who had ancestors that were slaves.
46968
It's very close.  I mean, by definition people in a society are not 'free'.  They all agree through social contracts and constructs to limit their behavior to the de facto 'rules'.  People can't be allowed to go running around doing just whatever they want.