For decades, many governments around the world have made security a top priority for their countries and their citizens, especially the American government. Although some senior officials place freedom above security, they realize that security must be achieved before the average citizen approaches the concept of acquiring freedom. HL Mencken claims that the average citizen will prefer security to freedom. The average citizen can be defined as a person who prefers to put his own safety before that of others also for the sake of his own freedom; however, an extraordinary citizen will risk his or her life for the safety and freedom of others. As Alexander Hamilton said, “Security from external dangers is the most powerful indicator of […] national conduct. Even the ardent love of freedom, after a while, will yield to its dictates.” Hamilton states that when faced with external dangers, safety takes priority and American citizens will accept some limitations on freedoms for their safety. Furthermore, Hamilton states that the love of freedom will eventually be overcome by the need for security. The average American citizen prefers security to freedom; this is affirmed by the citizen's desire to protect themselves by any means necessary against cultural, territorial and terrorist threats. The average American citizen requires the protection of his or her variety of cultural beliefs and customs from possible threats. In contemporary American society, a citizen's local police and his or her national government force the citizen to follow the rules of his or her community when he or she is able to make decisions that could affect others. Every citizen is born with absolute freedom, however every person must claim some of their rights for the well-being of their community... middle of paper... the average citizen must feel secure before they wish to achieve freedom because they would not want to be free without the security that surrounds them because after achieving freedom they will still worry about their safety. However, HL Mencken provides the ideals of security for the average citizen and not for extraordinary citizens who are willing to risk their lives for the safety and freedom of their fellow citizens. Thus, the average citizen would choose security over freedom for protection in the event of cultural, territorial and terrorist threats. The average citizen understands that security must be achieved before freedom because without feeling secure he cannot think about freedom. As Arnold Schwarzenegger states, “the first duty and most important obligation of government is public safety.” Freedom must become a second priority when compared to public safety.