<p>I hate these prompts. Can’t they just give us the normal quotation with agree/disagree? :mad: </p>
<p>Anyway:</p>
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<p>Assignment: All four freedoms are crucial in a free society. Yet, Roosevelt may be faulted for not adding a fifth, a sixth, or even more freedoms to the list. Given the opportunity to add another freedom, what would you choose? Feel free to invent a new freedom or simply pick one that already exists in the Bill of Rights or elsewhere. Support your positions with reasoning and examples …</p>
<p>My Essay</p>
<p>In 1941, President Roosevelt laid down the four fundamental freedoms of our country: Freedom of expression, of religion, from fear, and from want. Yet, for our nation to be truly democratic, the most important one is freedom from disparity. For everyone to be free, there can be no discriminatory biases - whether by sex, religion, race, or financial status.</p>
<p>In Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, Abel Magwitch is tried and falsely accused of forgery. Although all evidence of the crime points to Compeyson, the actual culprit, it is overlooked as Compeyson is from a more affluent background. Despite his innocence, Magwitch is exiled forever - coerced into leaving everything behind: friends, family, and what little property he possesses. On the other hand, Compeyson is left free to scheme and plot - ultimately conning more individuals for their wealth. Thus, because of his social influence, Compeyson is saved while an innocent Magwitch is penalized for his lowly class.</p>
<p>Similarly, for most of America’s ‘independent’ history, racial prejudices were held against Indians. Believed to be uncivilized and barbaric, native Americans were regarded as illiterate cave-men without any sense of morality or conscience. They were not even considered human, and their arts and beliefs were mocked. Throughout the years, Indians have been belittled and even hunted - entire clans wiped out! Even in a nation as precocious as the United States, they feared standing up for themselves … especially in court, for they feared an impartial judge and jury. How can a country claim to be a democratic republic if such prejudices are held? Were FDR’s freedoms only for the white man?</p>
<p>It may thus be observed that no modern nation can truly be considered democratic without freedom from disparity. As with Abel Magwitch, and as with Native Americans, injustices were held just because of their class and race. For everyone to be free, it is essential for everyone to be equal - regardless of their social or economic background.</p>