The Controversy of Freedom V.S. Slavery

The Controversy of Freedom V.S. Slavery H.L Mencken, American essayist and social critic, wrote “The average man does not want freedom he simply wants to be safe.” Many people would like to argue this statement saying that we as Americans have fought century’s to gain freedom so why would we sacrifice it for anything. Despite this argument, the average man in today’s society is indeed willing to sacrifice freedoms for safety due to the fact that mankind is programmed for survival, aware of freedoms being pushed too far, and able to distinguish and sacrifice dangerous things. Mankind has been equipped with an instinct for survival that pushes them to do whatever it takes to survive, including giving up freedoms. Many organisms through history have altered themselves in order to survive and preserve their species. Many types of plants over time have developed fruit in order to spread their seeds so that there species of tree can survive. In order for these trees to produce these fruits they first have to sacrifice nutrients. Without that sacrifice the fruits would never be produced and therefore the spread of seeds would decrease threatening to kill out that species of tree. The Common Black Bear is another, more complex, organism that sacrifices for survival. The Black Bear sacrifices everything to go into hibernation in order to survive during the harsh months of winter. The bear will forage for food, eat all it can, and then store the fat. Then, when it senses the winter getting near, it goes into caves and hibernates for months, sacrificing everything and just sleeping. Black Bears go to this extreme in order to survive the cold months of winter that can’t support all they need to survive. Mankind has been programmed with this same instinct for survival. Just like flowers and bears sacrificing for survival and preservation of their species, humans are instinctively going to do whatever it takes to be safe and survive. When faced with the decision to