Liberty According to Winthrop and Paine The United States is often considered the embodiment of liberty, but there is much debate over what we mean exactly when we say we value freedom. From the very beginning, when the colonies were formed, many people explained their own definition of freedom and then their own vision of this country. On the way to the New World, John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts, gave his famous “City on a Hill” (“A Model of Christian Charity”) speech. He details his hopes for the future of their new community, emphasizing love and cooperation. It is a strongly religious text, frequently referring to God and specific events in the Bible. More than a hundred years later, at the start of the Revolutionary War, Thomas Paine shared his thoughts on various aspects of the future nation. One of his works is “African Slavery in America,” in which he condemns slavery. In “Common Sense,” he denounces the monarchy and explains why the United States should free itself from it. Paine also has a religious basis for his ideas. While Paine and Winthrop both emphasize their belief that all humans are inherently equal and must treat each other justly to uphold the ideals of liberty, Winthrop takes a clearly nonviolent stance of loving the enemy and accepting suffering in order to to build a free community, although Paine affirms the right of people to take charge of their situation and take their freedom directly. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"?Get the original essay John Winthrop delivers his speech on the ship Arabella to inspire his fellow pilgrims to form an exemplary community of love and cooperation when they reach their destination. His Puritan values ​​are clear, particularly in his emphasis on compassion. He proclaims that everyone “must love their neighbor as themselves” and that “everyone helps others” (Winthrop 2). All human beings are created equal and should be treated as such. He will feel that their establishment is successful if its members are kind and helpful. He wants their community to honor God by exercising the values ​​he values. Winthrop reinforces his argument with one of the main tenets of not only Christianity but most major religions: the Golden Rule. He references Matthew 7:12, which states, “In everything, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Winthrop's plan for American freedom centers on this simple rule of compassion. If they want to free themselves from the tyranny and persecution they suffered in Europe, they must show kindness and respect to each other. They will contribute to the success of a community capable of functioning freely if there is a spirit of generosity and goodwill. Adherence to the Golden Rule is one of Winthrop's main points, which he uses to illustrate his view of freedom. Winthrop's emphasis on loving one another applies not only to those who act compassionately themselves, but to everyone. Freedom is important, but one way to achieve it, he said, is to prioritize unity. Quoting Matthew 5:44, he said, “Love your enemies…do good to those who hate you.” It is a common theme in the Bible that people show kindness in the face of hatred and even violence; mercy and gentleness are very important to Christianity. It's interesting how Winthrop isstrict in his insistence on this point. For him, everyone's freedom to do exactly what they want is not very important – what matters are their religious views. However, he believes that to be a “city on the hill”, a good example for everyone of the success of their adventure towards freedom, we must show love towards all humanity. He does not want to recreate an environment that will allow the same oppression they are escaping. Everyone deserves equally good treatment. Winthrop's view when it comes to interacting with others is to form a "labor of love"; doing things for others since “he who loves the party reaps love again” (Winthrop 5). He believes it is important for people to do things to help each other, as this will promote a positive and helpful attitude. Winthrop hopes to create a peaceful environment filled with people committed to the common good. Paine also discusses the inherent equality of all. He agrees with Winthrop that everyone is equal and therefore deserves to be treated well. In “African Slavery in America,” he also references Matthew 7:12, commanding people to “do unto all men as they would that they should be done” (Slavery 2). With this interpretation of the Golden Rule, he reminds Americans to not only treat others as they would like to be treated, but also to think about it from the perspective of those they dehumanize. Americans are fighting for their freedom and Paine is trying to convince them that everyone deserves to be free. A better community will exist when everyone looks out for the well-being of everyone around them and collectively helps the community. Both Winthrop and Paine emphasize that there will be some degree of inequality in terms of class and wealth, but that this does not mean that everyone should be treated differently. More than encouraging people to treat each other well, Paine advocates that Americans uphold the Christian values ​​of compassion and justice by allowing all people to be free. Paine differs from Winthrop in the way he wants people to respond to unequal treatment; he encourages anyone who is suffering to do what they can to free themselves. Paine's emphasis on freedom means freedom for all. He states that “the slave, who is truly the owner of his freedom, has the right to recover it” (Slavery 2). Paine finds it despicable that people would attempt to justify slavery, the theft of freedom and equality from their fellow human beings, by using the Bible. In "Common Sense", Paine opposes monarchy, another unjust institution in his view, and cites Judges 8:23, declaring that no human being "shall reign over you...THE LORD WILL REIGN OVER YOU." Paine believed that no man should have his life dictated by another, nor slaves by their masters, nor Americans by an English monarch. Humans have an inherent right to freedom, and no matter what some people think, everyone deserves to have this right. He also talks in "Common Sense" about how monarchical governments are often guilty of cherry-picking which parts of Scripture they will support. Paine argues that this is false and also relates to how people would support slavery by pointing out examples of slavery in the Bible, while ignoring the parts that talk about love and equality and ignoring the fact that the situation of African slaves at the time was very different from that of biblical slaves. In cases of independence from the monarchy and slavery, Paine advocated for Americans to step up and do the right thing. His strong belief in freedom shows his idea of ​​America: a place where all humans are.