Preview

Water Bill Persuasive Speech

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
563 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Water Bill Persuasive Speech
Today, we enjoy a greater modicum of freedom that some of our ancestors could've only dreamed of. However, as we all know, freedom is, quite ironically, not free. Our ancestors all had to escape oppression, whether it be from a tyrannous ruler or a society that demeaned them to nothing because of the color of their skin or their gender. America, the land of opportunity, was a land built by the labours of our forefathers. These men and women fought so valiantly not only to ensure their freedom, but also the freedom of the future generations ahead of them. Even today, although we may not realize it, when we fight for a cause that we are dedicated to, we are not only cementing our futures, but the futures of those ahead of us. It is a quote from …show more content…
As adults, American citizens leave behind a legacy every day that they exercise their rights. This includes participating in elections, whether it be on a local or national level. We can clearly see the legacies that our elected officials leave on the citizens. Here in my hometown, our city councilmen decided to implement a tax on the water bill that would be applied over the course of the next three years in order to renovate our dilapidated roads. While many people cried out in outrage because they saw the immediate effects that the tax had on their monthly bill, many more failed to realize that the long term effects of the roads being repaired far outweighed the slight increase on their sewage rates. These councilmen, elected by the citizens, are leaving behind a legacy for their town in the form of better roads. On the national level, when we vote and elect for presidents, we are shaping the future of our nation. It could be argued that the presidents of this country have greatly influenced and shaped the way America is today. This is evident in monumental ways: Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery, FDR signed the New Deal, and Teddy Roosevelt headed the Panama Canal project. When you are demonstrate your rights and actively complete your civic duties, you are leaving behind a legacy, no matter how small it may …show more content…
A voice, no matter how small can create the biggest changes. Some of the greatest uprisings in human history have begun with one person or a small group of people simply voicing the shared opinions of the general populace. If we think back to the time of our revolutionary era, we see founding fathers such as Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Adams speaking out and writing against their unjust government. While mostly everybody agreed with the opinions of these men, the stark contrast between men like them and the people was that they were vocal about it. Had it not been for this small group of our Founding Fathers, the war may perhaps have never been started because nobody was brave enough to speak out for their

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last,” are not only the words spoken by a legend deemed one of the most effective leaders in the history of civil rights , but are the words that were spoken during an evil time in American history in an attempt to bring to attention the consequences of which the nation suffered (King 34) It was at this time in history that world renowned activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his historical “I Have a Dream” speech detailing the idea that our society was being driven by the mindset “us” vs “them” establishing the “communities and enemies” concept that is continuously discussed today. Before Gloria Naylor wrote The Women of Brewster Place or Jean-Luc Nancy even began to compose…

    • 1253 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Today we are crossing the Kansas River to reach Alcone Springs. We still have a long way but it takes about 15 minutes to cross so I thought i would sit down and write about our past 3 days. It cost $1 to use the Pappin Ferry to get across. Our rope has been really good so far and haven't fixed it. On the 19th Grace got a spring cold which I got really worried because i don't know where a General store is ahead and if we run out of medicine right now… it will be bad. Other then that, much hasn't happened besides getting sick. The journey is doing good so far, lots of walking and stopping but what can you do.…

    • 124 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    A great example of this idea is and can be shown from Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. A fragment of his speech that stands out states, “ In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plain of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protests to degenerate into physical violence” (lines 56 - 60) For that reason this statement is an excellent example of how African Americans had to struggle and attempt to acquire freedom and be respected as black men and women of the United States of America. In addition, this statement also proves that people must fight, not with fists but with words and behave in a civilized fashion. An additional sample of the struggle for freedom also comes from Dr. King’s speech, especially when he tells us that, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” This quote supports the idea of struggling for Freedom by stating on how the “sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners” be able to enjoy the magnificence of…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The topic of Freedom can be seen throughout Dr. King’s speech when he tries to “ urge the congress to pass over the civil rights bill and let them fight for what’s right. Also in King’s speech he states the Bad Check, he states. “ For this one moment, the stubbornness of racism lifts and the people reveal in a moment of integrated community (pg. 48). This quote is important because Martin Luther King is telling how the whites…

    • 400 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Lillian D. Wald

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To keep the country running smoothly, the citizens must participate in it. If we, the citizens of the United States, don’t do our part, the government will have full reign over OUR society. Essentially meaning that would no longer be a democracy. That is something that we Americans pride ourselves on, being a democracy. We must ensure that we maintain and keep the rights and freedoms that we have.…

    • 739 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” - Frederick Douglass.…

    • 755 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The hardest part about standing up for one’s rights is that everyone else may agree with the government’s prejudiced beliefs. Society is often guilty for persecuting entire races, sexes, and nationalities; it’s not just their leaders. Inequality is so common that it can be witnessed daily. Individuals should still try to abolish these ideas no matter the consequences or how hard it may be. The United States of America has a declaration of independence that…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    America’s Gift to My Generation John Quincy Adams once said, “You will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.” I believe what he is trying to explain is that our freedom’s price was far too costly for it not to be taken advantage of. His quote provided a sufficient amount of evidence for me to prove that freedom is a very generous gift from America.…

    • 439 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Freedom for Granted In this country, the United States of America, we have a reputation as “The Land of the Free”, as in every man and woman that is a part of this country has the same equal opportunity to prosper. According to Albert Camus’ idea, “Freedom is only a chance to be better.” Inspiring hope, it shows that here in this country, we have many chances to become better, and by becoming one step closer to freedom; we are one step closer to becoming a better nation. I would love nothing more than to agree with this quote, but the fact that every chance our country has gotten to move on from the horrible time of slavery, we choose to stay stagnant. On the contrary, we see that people who are emancipated, or given freedom…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    HI, there I’m Alex Goldman as you may already know. And I invented what is now called the water-walkers. Now you may think I’m crazy right walking on water, but what if I told you in fact is possible with the help of technology of course.…

    • 388 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    “Freedom is only part of the story and half of the truth. Freedom is but the negative aspect of the whole phenomenon whose positive aspect is responsibleness.”…

    • 608 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Freedom is defined as the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement. It is the power to determine action without restraint and the exemption from external control, interference, and regulation. In the passage, Thomas Paine talks about how far America has come to have different races come together under one form of government. “We the people” is a commonly used phrase in this country. However, how free is this country that we so dearly love? America has changed dramatically from the country our founding fathers discovered. Some could even argue that we’re not really free at all anymore.…

    • 509 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    In John Sidney McCain’s “Veterans Day: Never Forget Their Duty” he talks about how far one of the prisoners of war that was with him went to show his pride for their country, “Sitting there, with his eyes almost shut from his beating, making another American flag. He was not making the flag because it made Mike Christian feel better. He was making that flag because he knew how important it was for us to be able to pledge our allegiance to our flag and country” (McCain 7). McCain’s quote explains that an American would do anything to protect freedom even if it means the ultimate sacrifice. In Franklin D. Roosevelt’s, “The Four Freedom” it shows how much Americans have faith in freedom and how far they go to protect it, “This nation has placed its destiny in the hands and heads and hearts of its millions of free men and women, and its faith in freedom under the guidance of God. Freedom means the supremacy of human rights everywhere. Our support goes to those who struggle to gain those rights and keep them. Our strength is our unity of purpose” (FDR 45). In other words, the idea that keeps all the diverse groups together is the freedom, to protect their freedom because they don’t want to lose freedom that they…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    An optimistic, spirited, and wise man, Ronald Reagan, once acknowledged, “We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we will always be free.” America is a country deeply rooted in freedom. Liberties are found in the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. The United States is our homeland where citizens celebrate the blessings of liberation, are united as one in nature and purpose, and come together in agreement that without the American military, our country would not be “... land of the free and the home of the brave.”…

    • 430 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    the crucible

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Meaning: If one brave man stands up for what he believes in, he can make a change.…

    • 949 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays