The Ultimatum

Freedom versus safety; the ceaseless debate about the priority of either one has transcended into our laws and society expectations. H. L. Mencken's quote, “The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.”, added to the already fueled conversation. If we wish to trace the verity of this concept on society nowadays, we must first explore the abstract meaning of both being "free" and "safe"- as both of them are subjective. Does "safe" imply physical safety, such as police security, or ,rather, a mere sensation of a united community ? Often so , what we perceive as "safety", is usually just an illusion of safety. Is "freedom" the literal ability to move around or the capacity to be free from society's beliefs and expectations ? No matter what each word symbolizes to an individual, it is very evident which one is being prioritized nowadays. For example, with society's expectations influencing personal decisions more and more, many opt to pursue a "safe" career choice rather than practice what they are truly passionate about. They believe that the prospect of having a decent salary, a roof above their heads, and food on their table will compensate the void that may feel due to the lack of personality they exhibit in their daily life. Perhaps another example that is more relevant to Mencken's quote (as it was published during a time of political turbulence) is the Patriot Act. This act allowed federal agencies to surveil electronic communications; however, it raised civil rights issues as it was used to justify the collection of personal information and calls. Supporters of this act usually validate it by stating how "they have nothing to hide" and how they are willing to give up some of their privacy in order to help prevent terrorism. As a society, we are more comfortable with handing in some of our freedoms so that we are more protected, or at least feel so. We have chosen the freedoms of safety over the risks of freedom.