Irving Pineda
Writing 100
Writing 100 Draft 1.2 Definition Essay: Free
There exist a myriad of definitions for the word free depending on context and culture. For
example, our country was based on the concept of freedom, but we do not correlate that
interpretation with the one splattered across health conscious foods which claim to be sugar free.
Rarely do we associate freedom with threatening concepts like evil, generally freedom is
something coveted and desired. The Oxford English dictionary defines free as: “Of a person: not
or no longer in servitude or subjection to another; having personal social, and political rights as a
member of a society or state”.
I define freedom as possessing the ability to carry out one’s desires without restraint. In order
gain a better understanding of the word freedom we may take a closer look at it in three different
areas of analysis. The first area of analysis is freedom in the political spectrum. Next I will talk
about freedom as a state of mind, and how it can be used to enhance one’s quality of life. Finally
I will address how freedom is defined in my family, and how my family’s definition of freedom
allowed me to open up about my sexuality. Although society may place different meanings on
the word free, the overarching quality which binds the meanings together is the idea that freedom
is intrinsically good.
The first area of analysis which I would like to discuss is freedom in the political spectrum
and how it is perceived an agent of good and a catalyst for success in government. Freedom and
upholding freedom are immediate goals within politics. For example, America was founded upon
the belief that freedom is integral to a civil society. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly,
and the right to bear arms constitute some of the rights that early Americans fought to uphold.
Government as an entity was established to ensure the rights of men and women in order to
protect their right as active members of civil societies to be free. “Recognition of and respect for
basic human rights, freedom of speech, the equality of all human beings, and the rule of law must
be seen not merely as aspirations but as necessary conditions of a civilized society”(Buddhism,
Asian Values, and Democracy). This thought by the Dalai Lama reflects the popular consensus
on the role of politics as a means through which freedom can blossom, since freedom is
universally accepted as necessary to upholding a decent quality of life.
The second area of analysis is freedom as a state of mind in correlation to quality of life.
These days, too much emphasis is placed upon what constitutes being free. Society often dictates
certain qualities that one must possess in order to be considered free, such as having ridiculous
amounts of money or partaking in death defying activities like sky diving. But what some fail to
realize is that even prison inmates can achieve freedom through a simple alteration of their state
of mind. By no means I am suggesting the use of drugs or mind altering substances, I am merely
stating that one’s quality of life should not be defined by the activities in which the partake in or
the value of the items that one possesses. As long as an individual wholeheartedly believes that
he or she is free, nothing and no one can force them into servitude. During times of slavery,
slaves created spirituals through which they expressed frustrations but more importantly
strengthened self identity. Through heart wrenching and uplifting spirituals slaves experienced
freedom which no one could take from them. Achieving freedom within one’s mind can lead to
amazing things, such as the creation of ideologies which can be taught to others and bring about
monumental changes such as the end of slavery or opening up about being queer to one’s family
members .
The third and final area of analysis is my family’s definition of freedom and how it allowed
me to open up about my sexuality and by doing so strengthen the bonds between my family and
I. Freedom within my family has always been defined as having the ability to open up to one
another about our problems without having to worry about judgment. Growing up I was afraid of
revealing my sexual orientation to my parents since I feared rejection and being ostracized from
those I love. Although society has become more accepting, homosexual individuals are still
discriminated against. Fortunately I was blessed with an accepting family who always gave me
the freedom to open up and express myself and my beliefs. Today I consider myself bisexual,
and am proud of the great strides society has taken in terms of accepting the queer community. I
could not have achieved this level of pride and happiness without my family’s understanding and
support which was born from the concept of freedom.
In conclusion, although society may place different meanings on the word free, the
overarching quality which binds the meanings together is the idea that freedom is intrinsically
good. Possessing freedom can lead to amazing things, whether it is the birth of a nation, escaping
slavery through a state of mind, or even reaffirming one’s self identity as a queer individual,
freedom is a catalyst for good.
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