WHAT IS FREEDOM WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
No matter what country you're in, reading this, or what situation you may find yourself in, this should make you think of what it could be.
The recent headlines show thousands of folks in many countries around the world as mobs. Crowds running through the street, screaming and yelling in a multitude of languages. The tone of the protests varied, with a focus on what they call freedom. The crowds vary from the most unruly violence to the subdued and orderly. So..., what is the core of freedom anyway? What is the idea of having the "right" to do whatever you wish in this life? Let us explore a bit and then leave you to draw your own conclusions.
Freedom is defined as the ability to pursue life as you believe your life path will make you have a better life. There are many different definitions of the word in various authorities defining our many languages worldwide.
I have asked many people throughout my life as to what they think Freedom means to them.A long and thoughtful pause usually takes place afterwards. The eyes focus inward and roll from side to side.
It is a question much like the child's perplexing question to a half-truth from an adult. It is the word "WHY?"..
The people who have the freedom to live within a society based on the doctrines of free thinking people will take the longest to answer.The point here is that free people have never known the harsh oppression of leaders, political, religious, etc. The freedom they know has always been a large part of their lives and livelihood. They really have no Idea as to how miserable life can get in a "controlled society"The perspectives are skewed by what the minor problems they have in life are. Terrible, awful? They have food, and at least chances to improve a dismal existence. The homeless have a future if it is hunted with diligence. A struggling Black woman actually went from a jobless,
single mom to a U.S. congresswoman. Not so remarkable, you say..She ran against George McGovern in the last century......She won! Look It Up, folks. Another country would never allow this even now.
I talked to a man from Pakistan a few hours ago about this. He asked if my blogs reached Pakistan.I told him, not yet. He told me about his country allowing the disowning of a family member by religious leaders, family, and society in general if you didn't follow a strict rule by elders.
The human rights people are working to change things as they can do so, I replied. I have also talked to People from all over the world regarding the concept of Freedom and what it means to them personally.
The most popular reply is roughly this:
1)Freedom is the right to marry whom you love.
2)The right to educate and become what you believe is "your" path in life.
3)The right to live where you would be most comfortable to live out your life in peace.
4)The right to see your children grow up, happy, healthy, and become great people in the world.
5)The freedom to travel, eat, drink, earn, and have your own responsibilities for bad habits.
6)The right to live a healthy life with medical help when you need it, not based on wealth or social status.
7)The right to vote for those who will follow a set of ideas that paraphrase your own ideas..
8)the right to be listened to by those people elected to that office.
9)The right to pursue and chase the dreams of a better future for one's family, regardless of who they are, where they are from, or how they see life.as long as they do no harm to others. (Do as thou wilt)
10)Lastly, the right to your own ideas and creativity of thoughts, intelligence, and Ideas.
The above could be added to infinitely by those who have freedom dreams because that is all they dare to have. Oppressors have not found a way to take our dreams from us if they are strong enough.
I once spoke with a man that serve as a tortured POW in Vietnam many years ago as an American soldier. We had dinner, and he had several drinks. He suddenly spoke up and said, "Ask me"!
I had no idea what was on his mind as the alcohol was freeing his mind of years of tormented memories. Memories that tear at the fibre of your humanity.Memories that should never be forced into any mind with a soul.Not even an animal! He continued to say this, You can put this in your journals, my friend. The days that I was in POW hell, I learned this...long pause and another drink, Freedom is a concept that is so deep inside each of us that no one can take it from us."They" can break your will, break your body, maybe break your mind in time...
"They" can not break your yearning for freedom, and "they" can not steal your soul unless you let them. That is the meaning of freedom.
I believe he would know this better than I, who have been raised, educated, and wandered this U.S.A.
land of the free for the last 25years.For those seeking freedom, wherever you may be.
Fight on and keep the dream of freedom deep within you. If a man crouched in a tigercage and fed starvation rations, dares to dream of being free, so can you...and I.
Talk to you again soon. I am headed south to the great state of Texas, where many are trying to pass a petition for forming into the Republic of Texas. It was once 2 centuries or so ago. I hope those folks remember the laws are only as good as the balancing freedoms that go with any constitution.
The U.S. Constitution is still available to recreate as a really great platform to build on.
I highly recommend it if you succeed :)
Till next time, my friends, keep the dream alive.
RJP
