Local residents reflect on what freedom means to them – Alpena News

News Photo by Steve SchulwitzA beret hangs on a white cross at Little Flanders Field in Alpena on Friday. The cross in the cemetery honors a local hero who died while serving our country. On Sunday, our nation celebrates Independence Day and the freedoms made possible from our fallen heroes.

ALPENA The word freedom can mean many different things to people.

Freedom to some is defined as the principles listed in the Bill of Rights. For others it is an idea or wish that never fully holds up to its definition.

In Alpena, a person doesnt have to travel far to see an American flag waving from someones porch or proudly displayed at a business. Red, white, and blue merchandise is widely available at many stores year-round. It is not uncommon to see people wearing apparel with stars and stripes, showing their patriotism.

The News recently talked to residents about what freedom means to them and how it impacts their lives.

Trevor Tagallini, of Hubbard Lake, said freedom is taken for granted because Americans are born with it and know no other way of life without it. He said without the assurances granted to citizens of the United States, life for many would look a lot different.

There are a lot of people that take our freedom for granted, Tagallini said. Were pretty lucky when you think about it. Why do you think people want to come to America from other countries? Its because they dont have the freedoms and rights that we have.

When thinking about rights and freedom, some people think of the First Amendment and Second Amendment.

The First Amendment protects the freedoms of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the right to petition, while the Second Amendment protects the right to keep and bear arms.

Mark Gross, of Alpena, said simple things like owning property, choosing your own partner to marry, the right to a fair trial, and being able to vote are rights that are often taken for granted.

I hear an awful lot of complaining about what we cant do or what we dont have, and very little about what we can do or do have, Gross said. People in other countries would never be able to get away with the crap we do. Is our system perfect? No its not. Are we lucky to have the rights we do have? Yes.

Not everyone agrees that citizens are as free as they believe. Mitch Templeton said peoples right to free speech is being violated daily, especially on social media, and other rights, such as the right to bear arms, are also under attack.

We are told how to behave at every level of our lives by our government and if we question things we are silenced or threatened, Templeton said. I thought a democracy gave everyone an even say in decisions. I think the people need to have more control over their own lives and the lives of their families. Government has too much power and is crooked. We arent free.

Joanne Swift said she is going to enjoy all of the events in Alpena to celebrate the Fourth of July and enjoy time with her family. She said during that time, her mind will also reflect on the men and women who sacrificed their lives to earn and preserve the freedom she now has.

Our independence didnt come without a cost, she said. Im always reminded of that on the Fourth, and every time I say the Pledge of Allegiance, or hear the National Anthem. I think, for the most part, most people do.

Tim Kuehnlein is an instructor of political science and history at Alpena Community College. He said freedom is cherished by Americans, but it also changes with the times.

Freedom, or liberty, is something Americans clearly hold dear. It is a moral imperative of the American creed, Kuehnlein said. Freedom is often illusive, in constant flux, and often with lots of pretense. Freedom is something we strive for in perpetual motion as we push its limits throughout the ages. For freedom to truly exist for anyone for any sustainable length of time requires that the parameters of freedom be respected by everyone relative to one another.

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Local residents reflect on what freedom means to them - Alpena News