"Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed."

When Martin Luther King Jr said, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed,” he wasn’t just saying this about African Americans during the Civil Rights movement. He was talking about all types of people who have been put down by others because of what they think is “right.” Women, homosexuals, people with mental and physical disabilities, former criminals, those who practice a “different” religion or none at all, and people of different skin color and ethnicities are just a few groups that have been berated. With this quote, the power of the people who won’t stand for this injustice, and their determination, change can and will happen. 

Back in Ancient Greece, men were superior to women in all aspects. In Antigone by Sophecles, Antigone wants to give her brother a proper burial even though King Creon makes it clear that anyone to even touch his body will be punished. Knowing the consequences, she goes and risks her life to rest her brother in peace. “Be as you choose to be; but for myself I myself will bury him. It will be good to die, so doing. I shall lie by his side, loving him as he loved me; I shall be a criminal--but a religious one” (Antigone 1132). Anitigone will not give she gets her freedom. 

One of the most talked about political issues is allowing two people of the same sex to marry. Before 2004, there wasn’t even a law allowing it. With the voices of many lovers who dreamed of watching their soulmate walk down the aisle is coming true. At the moment, there are more states that allow people to marry their first cousin then marry someone of the same sex. There are now 8 states, including our very own New York, in which two men or two women can get married legally. It was demanded and we got it.