Freedom is the word so many of us hears, and yet so many see differently. For some freedom may mean simply the ability to practice or not practice religion, for others freedom means the right to live with a minimum amount of interference. I think it only fair to begin this set of essay’s with a simple definition of what I believe freedom to be based entirely upon the current accepted definition.
Freedom is defined as the quality or state of being free, the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action. This should be a simple term and an even simpler idea to understand, right? Unfortunately, a majority of people in this nation truly believe that they are free because they have a few minor liberties. They believe they are free because they think they are able to vote for the person they choose. They believe they are free because they can work and only a little more than half is taken in taxes. They believe they are free because they can use a firearm, or believe in a religion, or better yet be with the person (regardless of sex) they desire as long as it is legal.
However, I am here to tell you that the idea behind these essays is not to celebrate what Americans believe to be freedom, but to champion the cause of true freedom and ask a simple question. Do we really have freedom? When I look around I see numerous liberties, these are the simple things like, speech, press, self-defense, voting and more. However, do these liberties equal freedom or are they simply a smokescreen used by an overreaching federal government.
Is it freedom when you can pay off the house you are “buying” and yet not own the land it sits on while still paying taxes? Those same taxes ensuring that you are forever in debt to a government that will gladly send its storm troopers of taxation to take your property away if you fail to pay; is it freedom when you are allowed to vote, but generally are forced to vote for the major parties picks? Is it freedom when you have to keep a form of state controlled identification on your person at all times or run the risk of being deported under suspicion of being illegal? Is it freedom when we write or speak and run the risk of being seen as terrorists under the Patriot Act and potentially the Belligerent Act? Is it freedom when a Muslim and an atheist are subject to the whims of the Christian right simply because they are unable to accept the freedom to practice our religion or non-religion as we see fit, as long as that practice does not harm another? Is it freedom when a homosexual or un-married individual is forced to follow laws specifically tailored for married individuals? Is it freedom when blacks, whites, and browns are unable to coexist without some government or “civil rights” figure stirring up the pot and spreading lies?
This essay series will be made up of interviews and commentary from myself and others. The idea is to look deep into the hearts and minds of a variety of Americans, black, white, brown, atheist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, gay, straight and more. Fortunate is a word often used yet not nearly large enough to cover how I personally feel at having been able to interview and ask so many different people how they feel, so far!
With that being said, over the next few weeks I hope to publish many interviews with numerous people from various backgrounds specifically looking at the idea of freedom. If you or anyone you know would like to be interviewed please send me an email at jesse.mathewson@autpaxautbellum.net and label it (Freedom Interview) everyone is receiving the exact same interview, the questions are open ended and allow for your ideas to be put down. Once received I will ensure that outside of grammatical and spelling changes the interviews remain unchanged, again thank you to my readers and feel free to share this!
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Comments
My idea is that more and more of my freedoms are being taken away. I don't like that one bit! thank you for giving me this in depth definition.
"Freedom" means doing what you want to do.
Freedom is morally neutral; it can be good or it can be bad- depending upon your desires. You have an obligation to not use your freedom to act upon your desires to harm the innocent, and also to accept the responsibility for your actions. You are accountable for everything you do.
Other people, consequences, responsibility, "laws", beliefs, reality, and many other things can limit your freedom. Freedom, liberty, and rights are not the same thing but are entangled.
Some people can be perfectly "free" in prison, while others couldn't be free in Utopia.
Liberty, then, is the freedom to exercise your rights, and rights are the things you can do, no matter how trivial or important, simply because you are alive, without asking permission from anyone and without placing an obligation on anyone else. No one is obligated to provide you with the means of exercising your rights, they are simply obligated to stay out of your way as long as you are harming no innocent person.
Beautiful!
I hope I am able to interview you sir!
It will be interesting to follow your essays.
Personally, I think it's all pretty simple. I own my life and ethically acquired property. Ownership involves both control and responsibility - without aggression against anyone else. I am responsible for this life and my safety, as well as for the consequences of all my choices and actions.
That is true freedom in a nutshell. There is no freedom without self ownership and responsibility.
I think there is considerable conflict between what you defined as freedom and what freedom is within the context of membership in a civil society. In the latter, some degree of freedom is traded off to secure the benefits of living within a society. It is interesting trying to determine a balance between them and I look forward to your essays.
Exactly the reason I want to know what and why others think what they do! Thank you Hugh!
Hi Jesse: Our country is in deep trouble, and will take time, prayers and hope to get back to what America once was. It is "We the government," not "We the people." This upcoming election is going to change a lot of things.
Thank you Jesse for taking the time and spelling out the definition of freedom. It used to be "We the People" like Joyce mentioned but freedom isn't what the word used to mean anymore. More and more our freedom is being cast aside and ruled by others. Thanks for sharing!
Winona Cooking Examiner / Winona Home and Living Examiner
"Freedom's just another name for, nothing left to lose."
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
خلفيات مسن
فساتين زفاف روعه
فساتين زفاف 2010
صور فساتين الزفاف
صور فاطمة الصفي
صور شوجي
صور مسن
فساتين سهرة 2010
تسريحات 2010
صور سبونج بوب
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