where does the freedom come from?
494432
The communities that the early settlers organized would hardly be called "free".  They conducted in slavery, indentured servitude, witch burnings, genocide, and the settlers were often hungry, sick, and overworked.  A very bleak and pitiful life.  Very few wanted to come here (against popular belief).  This wasn't the "promised" land we imagine it was.  Just like Australia, America was seeded by the sick, criminal, poor, prostitutes, etc.\n\nThe only ones who found freedom were the Religious extremists kicked out of Europe.  And these were the guys burning witches!  The Pilgrims came so they could live a more restricted existence, not be free in the way we think free.\n\nThe reality is that America has never been as free as it has been in the last 50 some years.  Think: abortion, civil rights, medical cannabis, hardcore porn, 10,000 brands to chose from, and soon illegal immigrants will be free.  And before that prohibition.\n\nBut what is freedom?  It is something different for each person.  When Bush talks freedom I think he is talking about capitalism and consumerism.  But when Castro talks freedom he points at free health care, free education, freedom from poverty.\n\nMy sense of it is that when the Islamic World (for example), views our pornography, they can't believe what they are watching.  Among other things they must be total offended and think our society to be totally insane to allow these things.  We call it freedom, they call it depravity.\n\nThere are many things we are not free to do.  We can't use illegal drugs.  Can't drive too fast.  Got to pay your taxes.  Can't be late to work, or for that matter you must go to work.  Pay credit card bills.  Get up when the alarm goes off.  Walk the dog etc.  We are not a free society, but we call ourselves that.\n\nTrue freedom is abstract and hard to understand.  The quote I like is, "Freedom isn't free".
65986
Of course our rights stem from the Bill of Rights which amended the Constitution.  However, and more importantly, our rights are preserved by the "Rule of Law" and that depends on our Court system being independent of Congress or the Whitehouse.  Many countries had constitutions, lawyers and elections but lost their freedom when they lost the rule of law.  Nazi Germany is a good example.  I know of investors who shy away from investments in Russia today because they doubt that the rule of law there will protect their rights.  perhaps things will change for the better.
789802
Go back to our roots.   The Declaration of Independence, Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  \n\nWe were founded by rebels who wanted free religion seperate from government and declared it a basic human right to pursue happiness in equality with all.\n\nOur beginning is quite beautiful...we have fallen off the road somehow.  Jefferson said when Capitalism surpasses Democracy we will become  disfunctional. ...Guess what?
123983
It is from the will of the people.  US became free from Great Britain because we went to war and got our independence.  In many countries, it is run by a dictator because it has always been like that.  Many Mideast countries have been run by dictators.  It is up to the people to risk their lives if they want to change their government.
722069
Drinking in the streets and smoking in bars is what you call freedom?\n\nNo - freedom is knowing that you can express yourself any way you want that does not harm others, can express any idea that you want, can worship in any way that you want, can go anywhere you want without documentation, can be as you want to be without fear of authorities detaining you or seizing your possessions without cause as defined by law.\n\nYes, America is the most free country in the world - but too few Americans use these freedoms, and that is probably what you realized when you were here.  It's this fact that most threatens the freedom we have.\n\nNote to American readers: Freedom does NOT include a right to NOT be offended.\n\n[ADDED] Seeing your details.... Look, if you're saying the US isn't free, I disagree, and my reasons are stated.  But if you're trying to start a pissing contest about who is freer - US or UK - screw the argument; both are free, OK?
1071195
Firstly if you know the EU, they do not give away ANY freedom. Some political decisions are made in the EU parliament in Brussels.\n\nIn everycase, these countries have gained incredibly by joining the EU, as has the EU. There freedoms are much more strongly protected and supported and the possibility of the dreadful wars of Europe has almost receded to nil.
522841
until the people rise against thier government. Freedom has a price that must be paid before a country gets a free government.That price is not cheap.
469579
Freedom is the liberation of captivity. It can be physical, mental, emotional, and/or many other things. For example, a good movie can captivate your attention. So captivity is not always as harmful as the word may denote. However, examples of graver captivity can be slavery or battered wives. Freedom can come from many different things, even something so little and yet so precious as a thought. After all, freedom starts as a thought.
1043663
People usually give others power over them. Once they get the power, the elected ones abuse it and try and control your lives. There is truly no freedom anywhere in the world.
977411
the country where people can fall in love without restrictions,and get married without opponents.where they can go in other countrys if they want,stuff like that...........freedom means a lot but some people dont know that word
787870
Basically, it represents freedom. The freedom to think and act according to one's own beliefs without the interference of a Federal Government. We can see more clearly every decade how these freedoms have been lost since the War Between the States. You can't even spank your own kids in your own home now without drawing the attention of the Federal Government. You lost much when you crushed the 'rebellion'. I wonder how long it will take before you see it?
1174115
If you mean "where do laws come from", the answer is philosophy. Most of our laws (the ones that make sense, anyway), are derived from great philosophers.  The greeks gave us trial by jury.  "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" was given to us partly by John Locke (originally "life, liberty, and property).  Take a look at deontological ethics, and you'll find some familiar concepts.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deontology
161301
Freedom: The ability to do anything that you want (good or bad)\n\nIn fact and in the intent of laws: The most relative definition is that our freedom stops where the freedom of another individual begins.
567414
If you want to look at it hypothetically no not really but we are living together as one on the other hand. Freedom is not that easily given it must be earned and one must take responsibility in order to have true freedom in any form. Being equal doesn't mean a removal of freedom it just means that being equal has its limits to freedom and created by some part of equalness. I hope that you understood what I was trying to say to you.\nPeace! :)
36843
Freedom in the USA is (in my opinion) a joke.  We go into other countries to give them what we have but i dont think we really have it to begin with.  Blacks still get dicrimminated against. So do gays and people from the middle east.  It took us how long to give women and blacks the rights that they have?  I sit here in Europe (on vaycay) and I see such a huge difference in freedoms.  Its astonishing really.  In my eyes if you are rich you got all the freedom you want... if you fall short your screwed.  I come from a middle class family.  We had to work to get what we wanted, we arent rich.  and i dont feel we got the same freedoms and treatments that money would normally give others.  Just my opinion.
864623
Basically, the story of freedom is still an unfinished story, it isn't a single event, but a series of steps taken and yet to be taken to continue to try and acheive this ideal.  You could even make an arguement that we have regressed at times and may even be doing so now...
1163645
there is no totall freedom cause:\ninternational socity is baised  on   money, usefulness for community  and other factors which make us more and more limited,restricted and dependent ...\n\nunfortuatly that's the way it is .... and I have no answer why we shoulde live like this.it is totally ridiculous.