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Tayler Reed
Coach Metcalf
MLT #10, 13, 15
13 October 2014
Freedom and Justice for All
Have you ever been deprived of a freedom or right that should be granted to you? Your
skills and abilities may have been overlooked because of your race, gender, or religion. This
injustice occurred in the past and continues to be prevalent today. Some of these injustices are
racial inequality, deprivation of womens rights, and banning of religious freedoms. Over the
years, ones have addressed these injustices and sought out ways to relieve them. Douglass What
to the American Slave is Your Fourth of July? highlights freedom from racial inequality,
Stantons Declaration of Sentiments highlights womens rights, and today there is a need to
allow Jehovahs Witnesses to preach and worship freely in foreign countries.
In Douglass speech he admitted his disgust in the American celebration of the fourth of
July because the independence didnt apply to slaves. For slaves that day represented the
injustice and cruelty they experienced constantly (Douglass, 1852, para. 15). Frederick Douglass
advocated for racial equality by boldly speaking to the crowd about how the Negro race is equal
to others, entitled to liberty, and rightful owners of their body. In order for there to be
improvements, the laws needed to change. In Virginia at the time, a black man could face the
death penalty if they committed any of the seventy-two crimes placed. However, a white man
would only receive that same punishment if they were convicted of two crimes (Douglass, 1852,
para. 8). This shows how unfair the legal system was. Not only did the law place heavy
consequences on crime, but also on education. The law tried to deter slaves of their intellect by
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forbidding the teaching of slaves to read and write. If this law was broken, severe fines and
penalties were put into action (Douglass, 1852, para. 9). Douglass stood up for what he believed
in and contributed to the rights that fellow African-Americans have today. Womens rights were
also lacking until advocates like Elizabeth Stanton came along.
In Stantons Declaration of Sentiments, she addressed how men and women are created
equal and have certain rights that cant be taken away. If the government were to ever deprive
ones of these rights, it is their duty to take action. However, women were not being represented
and history proved that there were a repeated number of injuries on the part of the men toward
women (Stanton, 1848, para. 2). In order for there to be equality, women needed to be offered
the same opportunities as men and shown more respect. Stanton believed that women should be
able to obtain higher education and be known as a figure of theology, medicine, and law
(Stanton, 1848, para. 13, 14). Women at the time were only thought of as being cooks,
housekeepers, and nurses. Men tried to make women unsure of their abilities and lose their self-
respect and confidence. This in effect made women more dependent on men (Stanton, 1848,
para. 18). Stanton aided in changing the law and allowing women to finally get what they
deserved. These injustices have been acknowledged and dealt with; however, there is a right that
hasnt been fully taken into account.
Jehovahs Witnesses are known for following Jesus Christ and early Christians footsteps
by preaching from door-to-door in their ministry. However, sometimes their work is disrupted by
different groups because of their preaching. In Turkmenistan, Jehovahs Witnesses consistently
suffer serious violations of their fundamental human rights. Currently eight Witnesses are in
prison for adhering to their faith. They face many abuses, live in grim conditions, and hope that
Turkmenistan authorities will apply international human rights in their country so that they can
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have religious freedom (Turkmenistan, 2014, para. 4, 5). Some may argue that the Witnesses
shouldnt be allowed to preach from door-to-door because they are soliciting. This claim is false
because in actuality they arent. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2002 decided that Jehovahs
Witnesses form of religious activity have the same rights under the First Amendment as do
worshiping in churches. They also came to the conclusion that for Witnesses to obtain a permit
would be like citizens asking for permission to speak to their neighbors (Awake!, 2003, p. 9). If
the Supreme Court recognizes that Jehovahs Witnesses are allowed to preach, then certain
countries should as well. Witnesses arent just being arrested for preaching, but also for
remaining neutral with warfare.
Warfare is one area where Jehovahs Witnesses remain neutral. In Eritrea three young
men who are Witnesses were arrested and detained in harsh conditions in the Sawa prison camp
twenty years ago. These faithful men have never been charged with a crime or given the
opportunity to defend themselves in court. How is this fair in the court of law? How can ones be
charged with a crime they never committed? These men objected to performing military service
because of their strongly held religious beliefs. These injustices placed upon these poor men
have caused them to spend their youth in prison. They have been denied the opportunity to marry
and have children, support their aging parents, and live their lives (Twenty, 2014, para. 1, 2).
Jehovahs Witnesses in South Korea also face charges for remaining neutral. The number of
Witnesses sentenced in prison each month for conscientious objection range from 40-50. There
are currently 602 Jehovahs Witnesses imprisoned with a total of 17, 840 Witnesses imprisoned
since 1950 (South, 2014). Some might conclude that Jehovahs Witnesses should go to war and
be willing to fight for their country. However, there are four primary reasons why Witnesses
remain neutral. These reasons are obedience to God and Jesus, they have a love for others, and
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follow the example of early Christians (Why, 2014). Jehovahs Witnesses around the world
deserve to be extended the same human rights as ones do in other countries.
There are many injustices that can be found in the world. Some injustices have been
addressed over the years. These include racial inequality and deprivation of womens rights.
Racial inequality was prevalent because African-Americans werent considered equal to others
and didnt have the right to receive an education. Women were deprived of the right to obtain
higher education and werent shown respect by men. Today Jehovahs Witnesses in foreign
countries continue to be deprived of their right to preach and remain neutral in warfare. Freedom
is what all humans need and in order for our world to truly be a better place, injustices need to be
liberated for once and for all.













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Reference Page
Awake! (2003). Supreme Court Rules for Freedom of Speech. Awake! p. (9-11)
Douglass, F. (1852). What to the American Slave is Your 4th

of July? Rochester, NY.
Stanton, E. (1848). The Declaration of Sentiments, Seneca Falls Conference, 1848. Modern
History Sourcebook
South Korea's Judiciary Dilemma-Rights of Conscientious Objectors. (n.d.). JW.ORG. Retrieved
October 13, 2014, from http://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/south-
korea/conscientious-objectors-judges-struggle
Turkmenistan: Witness Mother Is Freed, False Charges Remain. (n.d.).JW.ORG. Retrieved
October 12, 2014, from http://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-
region/turkmenistan/dashoguz-court-frees-bibi-rahmanova/
Twenty Years of Unjust Imprisonment in Eritrea-Will It Ever End?. (n.d.).JW.ORG. Retrieved
October 12, 2014, from http://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/by-region/eritrea/jehovahs-
witnesses-unjust-imprisonment-20-years/
Why Don't Jehovah's Witnesses Go to War? | FAQ. (n.d.). JW.ORG. Retrieved October 13, 2014,
from http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/why-dont-you-go-to-war/