Diane L. Mueller Normal Community West High School

The events of September 11th and the political reaction afterwards makes Eric Foner's The Story of American Freedom not only an important read, but an opportunity for intellectual thought. Freedom certainly is a word in common usage today. What it means or doesn't mean is open to debate. Decisions have been made or will be made over the next several months that will determine what freedom means for many years.

The concept of freedom is illusive and complex. What it should or should not include changes from group to group and time to time. However, after reading the book I felt what freedom should include needs to become a stable answer that transcends time, place, and situation. As I read the book I found my reactions varying with the ideology, times, and narrowness the concept of freedom often took. I am sure this reaction is typical of anyone raised during the height of the 1960s and 1970s civil rights movements.It is hard to imagine freedom being equated with economic contracts or failing to include minority rights.

Most of the events Foner cited are known. However, his twist of including the relationship between events and the concept of freedom was refreshing. Wage earners, non-Protestants, racial, ethnic, and gender minorities are usually discussed in a superficial manner in traditional American History. To see the importance those groups played in the shaping of history not only gives credibility to their importance but brings to light the contributions of many movements to the changing concept of freedom.

Having the opportunity to teach a semester high school history course that emphasizes women, race relations and the labor movement gave this book particular meaning. The book reaffirmed the importance of these groups in American history and provided key ideas of how their importance can be transmitted in the classroom.

A recent lesson with high school students demonstrated to me that most young people do not think about, care about, or consider freedom an issue. If you have done nothing wrong or have nothing to hide then recent regulations implemented after September 11th are no big deal. I think a similar attitude exists in the adult community.

The last chapter of the book brings to light the need for all Americans to answer the question: What is freedom? I don't think the majority have reflected on freedom's changing definition or realize how different it is today compared to twenty years ago. With the current crises over terrorism and the growing conservative trend, a strong look at what freedom should mean needs to be reviewed.

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