Here’s something to consider: does safety outweight freedom? According to H.L.
Menchen, “The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe.” Safety does,
in fact, outweigh freedom because there is more of a sense of security in safety that in freedom.
Although some people might think that freedom is more important than safety, in reality, it is the
other way around with safety winning the battle of importance. Safety gives people a good sense
of security and makes them feel like they are doing the right thing in life.
One example that safety gives people a sense of security is being able to keep a job. Since
the economy dropped in 2008, many people have been worrying about the necessities in life.
They wonder if they will keep their jobs, if they’re going to be able to pay the bills, and if they
will be able to provide for their families and for themselves. A good number of people have been
laid off since the recession. For instance, Toyota has laid off numerous people who work the
assembly line. This leads to the employees worrying if their job is safe and most important, if
they themselves are safe.
Another example of security found in safety lies in the theory called Maslow’s Hierarchy
of Needs. This is a diagram of a triangle that describes what the basic needs are for people
according to Maslow. At the bottom of this triangle lies security and safety. It is at the bottom
because it is the most important need and is the first step to achieve total happiness in life. While
at the top there are selfless behaviors, it is the last need. However, to accomplish this you need to
start at the bottom and work up from there. It all starts with the most important needs of safety
and security.
While safety is a great thing, others feel like freedom is the ultimate goal to achieve. For
example, during the time period where African Americans were slaves, freedom was the most
important thing in life. Many slaves risked their lives to escape the hellhole where they worked.
It wasn’t until Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation that African Americans
were free. Nevertheless, while African Americans might have been freed, they still had to worry
about their safety as they were heavily discriminated against and still weren’t treated equally.
In conclusion, safety provides people with a sense of security when freedom cannot. It is
the biggest and most important need people need to strive for in life. Without safety, there can be
no peace of mind and ultimately no complete happiness.
Explanation:
