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The Idea Of Freedom From Fear

Decent Essays

Article two of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights lists freedom from fear as a fundamental human right. Freedom is the power or right to act, speak or think independently without hindrance or restraint. Fear is an unpleasant emotion caused by impending danger or evil. I do not believe that the idea of freedom from fear has changed in the last seventy years, fear is a basic survival mechanism and although its form may change, it will always be present in one form or another,
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt presented his inaugural address in 1941 the United States was in the midst of a great economic depression and although the United States had not yet joined the war, the world was at war. He made a serious speech trying to comfort and bolster the people in their times of hardship and despair. Freedom from fear was the fourth freedom that he spoke about, defining it as ”a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor.” He aimed to create world peace maintaining that wars were driven by fear and misunderstandings. His speech ou lined the …show more content…

They acknowledged the need for people to work together and cooperate towards a common good, through hard work, and honesty which should be allowed to pay off. Obama’s speech is more succinct than Roosevelts and refers to more global issues, in a global world, whereas Roosevelt’s makes repeated references to freedom in various forms and has become known as the four freedom’s speech. In retrospect freedom from fear has not altered, we as a nation are more aware of it because of the increased media coverage that global issues get today. There is always a desire to be free from fear, but fear will always exist in our lives in one form or

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