August 24, 2012

Freedom or Safety?

The community in The Giver is based upon the idea that safety and order are more important than freedom. It is a place with very little crime and very few tragedies. However, there is a hidden dark side to this place safety.

The book has raised a great question that a student brought up yesterday:

Which is more important: 
freedom or safety?

photo credit: spdorsey via photo pin cc

27 comments:

  1. I think safety is more important than freedom because when you have freedom you just do what you want to do. For example, someone could drive without putting on their seat belts.

    You don't need to have freedom as much as safety. You may need it sometimes, but not as much.

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    1. Some people say that it should be their own decision if they want something like a seatbelt on. How would you respond to that argument that people should decide their own levels of safety?

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  2. I think safety is more important that freedom because if you are in a safety place you will not be worried about anything. If you are always free you will not be in a safety place. Anyone would be allowed to hit or punch you.

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    1. What are the limitations to this argument? You brought up some great points, but at what point is safety also dangerous?

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  3. I think safety is more important than freedom because safety is good for people.

    In total freedom people could stab you. This is true, because people could do whatever they want.

    It would feel sad. It would also scary.

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    1. For some people in the world, that's the type of community that exists. I imagine it is both sad and scary.

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  4. Freedom is more important than safety because what if you don't wont to eat at the same time as everyone else? Should you be forced to eat? What if you want to eat when you want to eat?

    What if you want to ride a bike when you are 4 years old? What if you're big enough? What if they wont to wear something else that others don't wear?

    Freedom is important, because it is good do whatever you want.

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    1. So, what would you do if you lived in a place like the community in "The Giver?" How would you change that world?

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  5. I think safety is more important than freedom because people from jail get freedom. I believe this because I want children to be safe. In addition, people in jail can get freedom and can hurt kids if there is complete freedom. Also,if you are saying freedom is more important than safety then you're saying kids can play with knives and gun. This is why I say safety than freedom.

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    1. You gave some really specific examples of the danger of anarchy. However, what is the danger in total safety? Why would that be a bad place to live?

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  6. I believe that freedom is more important than safety because the community needs more freedom.

    They need to do whenever they want no matter what the elders said. The community in "The Giver" was unfair. I believe this because that community is so unjust.

    But if I choose freedom it's good. However, freedom is not okay if you kill other people. In addition, I think freedom is wrong if you can do whenever you want and get out of the jail.

    Also freedom means free but you don't get to be all free. Finally freedom can be dangerous or a disaster but I'm not looking like that!

    So, in conclusion, freedom and safety are both important

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    1. I like the balance that you point out. Maybe the two are held in tension.

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  7. For me it is important to have safety to take care of me so I would not miss anything.

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  8. I think this is more important than safety and because i believe in it more.This is true because safety comes first.In addition if you are done with safety then u can start fun.Also,you don't have to pick both but i pick one.Finally,you now know what to do which is safety comes first.

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    1. Interesting point about not having to pick one or the other. Do you think there's a balance there?

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  9. IN MY OPINION SAFETY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN FREEDOM BECAUSE FREEDOM CAN BE DANGEROUS. THIS IS BECAUSE THE TEENAGERS MIGHT BE DOING BAD THINGS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE. IN THE WALLS THERE WILL BE GRAFFITI AND THERE WOULD BE DRUGS EVERYWHERE, THE PEOPLE IN JAIL WOULD BE FREE AND THE CITY WOULD BE A DISASTER IF WE HAD ALL FREEDOM.

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    1. Interesting point about the place of total freedom (ararchy). What would a place of complete safety look like?

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  10. I think freedom is more important than safety because with no freedom, you will not have any rights. Freedom also comes with laws, which can keep us safe, while still having the freedom we all want. The United States is a place with freedom, and you do not see the country falling apart. The US is actually one of the safest places on Earth.

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    1. Excellent point. Maybe true freedom is what leads to safety. However, is there a necessary security needed to preserve the freedom?

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  11. Got to be freedom! First of all, who has the capability to provide safety. Second, even in those instants of safety, the constraints have to be overwhelming. Third, with freedom handled appropriately, one can choose the level of risk acceptable and deal with resulting safety issues - taking control of one's efforts, possible only with freedom!

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  12. from both I think deez nutz are

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  13. I rather have freedom, because human beings will almost never truely be safe on this planet we call earth. Also, safety can never be guaranteed, even if it was, it doesnt mean you will be safe.

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  14. I think FREEDOM is more important than saftey. Freedom already has its restrictions but, also the thought of freedom can come with a price. Also in violence the goverment cannot protect us from violence. Only thedetermined people or gangs that want to harm us could break any safty rules. So saftey is useless to moat of us. That is why FREEDOM is more important than safty

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  16. Freedom is more important than safety. To truly weigh a contest of ideas one must look at the extreme of both and choose which of the extreme is preferred. Extreme freedom you can do anything and so can others therefore you would be left to protect yourself but would get to live your life as you see fit. In extreme safety you would never make your own decisions they would be made for you and enforced with violence for the slightest deviation. I know which I would choose, only thing left to ask is what would you choose?

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  17. ...sometimes you come across interesting debates....then sometimes you come across useful information....and then there are times, like now, you find yourself reading the stupidest stuff you can find...

    People are comparing Freedom to Safety?... something called basic instinct automatically covers the latter one..."oh look that wood is on fire, I know, I jump into the middle of that and get me some"?...

    The best way too sum up the value of things is too look at the cost of them...

    Safety is bought by things like focus groups, legislation, media, signs, training, unions blah blah....

    Freedom on the other hand is paid for really by only one thing.....people willingly laying down there lives...so I suspect its quite a considerably higher value item...I mean there's be quite a few revolutions for freedom....not sure I've heard of revolutions for seatbelts or hard hats?

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