American History Reflection
Liberty and freedom have been one of the most sought-after rights by people for millennia. Since the introduction of metropolitan societies, under the leadership of some sections of the populace, the governing has had the tendency to oppress others and create a system which controls fundamental rights essential for harmonious living. Humanity has been in perpetual quests for equality, for a chance to pursue personal goals and dreams, which have been mostly thwarted by the leadership or the system. The song Can’t hold us by Macklemore feat. Ray Dalton is a representation of courage to break free from an oppressive system and the determination to pursue freedom and liberty in all corners of the world. Despite the song is not intended for the political purpose, it has revolutionary ideas which are reminiscent the days of American revolutions of the 18th century. It is a song which can be related with some of the sentiments of revolutionary leaders of those ages.
One of the characteristics of the song is its ability to whip up the society to break free and achieve personal gains. It encourages people to be free, seeks liberty from what has been done before. This is especially with the catchphrase “Ceiling can’t hold us” where it is a conviction of fighting fervently for freedom and breaking from set barriers. Thomas Paine would have agreed with such sentiments, such that there should be no barriers set for people to have liberties and freedom. The “Ceiling” in the song would have been likened to the “monarchy” by Thomas Paine, which is an unnecessary limitation against the will and intentions of humanity.
The most fundamental aspect is the realization and rebellion against an oppressive system. The song depicts being free from what the society tells the people to do and that they are independents. “Been on Broadway, and we did it our way” links to the teachings of Samuel Seabury, who agitated for independence from Great Britain rule over the Americans. He would have advocated for the same, particularly encouraging representatives to look for having an American constitution. However, he would have been against mob justice and unlawfulness as it is depicted in the song video. Landing on the tallest building in the city or hoisting the flag with a firework would cause serious conflicts with the system. That is why he advocated for the liberty and freedom to requested in peace and it would be granted with dignity.
John Wesley would have called for use of reason rather than physical might as it would lead to more problems to the society than when the society was under the rule of the king. Reason would be the way to avoid bloody conflicts and deaths. He would have been against the use of the society to win freedom and personal liberty. This is opposed to the fact that the song advocates that the ceiling cannot hold them because the people are behind them, and they would protect would catch them when they fall.
The video of the song employs various settings such as the snow land, the sand, and water which are enough grounds for their quest for happiness. One of the aspects which John Dickenson opined and requested was granting of access to these resources such as land and water for prosperity. The film uses peasants in the field as a demonstration of how a system can affect the happiness of the inhabitants and Dickenson argued that the British parliament does not levy taxes for the mutual benefit of the colonies but to simply levy money on Americans. People should be left free to do as they please with the resources they have, even if it means having a shave at the seashore, or traversing the land in a caravan, which what Dickenson lamented that Great Britain has muzzled industrial and economic development of the Americans.
All that these 18th-century revolutionaries have in common with Macklemore feat. Ray Dalton is that there is a need for liberty and freedom against any foreign power which curtails opportunities for self-determination and development. The American constitution for the revolutionaries and the “Heist” branded flag which is marks their album are the missions for their quest towards happiness and independence. To conclude, being under a frustrating record label or an imposing foreign rule can undermine development and self-determination, therefore, seeking freedom and integrating all cultures, races, and states is one way towards achieving such. This is just as Samuel Adams believed that the natural liberty of any man is to be free from any superior power on earth and should have only nature under his rule.
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