What is freedom?

[Az]

It seems to be a word that gets passed around a lot as something to fight and even die for. But what is it?

Total freedom would seem to be anarchy. People doint whatever they want to whomever they want. Is this what we are fighting for?

Freedom as we know it came from a very specific historical path. Our society has experienced a journey that has taught us that people must be free to make up their own minds about beliefs. We have learned that we cannot rely on dogmatic authorities to tell us what is right or wrong. We have learned that we must define our own paths.

We have learned these things through harsh trials. Social discord and turmoil were the costs of learning these lessons. They were not handed to us. We had to learn them for ourselves.

Yet now we expect nations which have not gone through the same lessons we have to accept our freedom despite their lack of appreciation for it. We march in demanding that they be free of their beliefs that holy men speak the absolute truth. We demand that they free themself from the idea that morality is defined by their god. We insist that they abandon their cherished certainty that their path is laid out before them and accept our uncertain struggle of freedom.

Even our society has very vocal members that cry out against the very freedom they champion. They call for authority over morality. They seek to restrict the rights of others in the name of god. They demand that even those the do not believe be made to swear to their gods.

Freedom is a word. We wave it about as a grand thing. But we lose sight of all it means and where it came from. We fail to see that it was the journey itself that gave us the appreciation for it. Civilization spent most of its existance without it. It fought harshly against it. Even those that cherish it know to limit it. When we offer it to others we must see where their journey has taken them and where they have to go yet.

[sangh0]

1. Actually, we don't expect other nation to accept "freedom"

We are not even trying to get them to accept democracy. We are only trying to get them to accept elections and laissez-faire free markets, a combination that frequently breeds inter-ethnic strife. (See Amy Chua's World On Fire)

However, this is not a criticism of what you just wrote. It corroborates it. By promoting elections and free market policies in nations that have not been prepared for it (by their histories) and calling that "promoting freedom" we have supported one of the biggest scams in history, and like most scams, is destined to fail spectacularly

[MichaelUK]

2. Freedom is

being able to elect your leaders. Freedom is knowing that your voice matters. Freedom is being able to be how you are when you want to. Freedom is being able to spend your life how and with whom you want.

Land of the Free??

[elfwitch]

3. Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

- Janis Joplin

[drumwolf]

4. If you're a Freeper....

....then freedom isn't about any of that liberal nonsense about having the right to criticize your government or have consensual gay sex in the privacy of your own home. Freedom means killing towelheads. ;)

During the invasion last year, I couldn't help noticing the way the wingnuts' every other word was "freedom this" and "freedom that". I got the clear impression they were essentially using "freedom" as a synonym for "American military supremacy." :puke:

[el_gato]

5. Getting to the crux of the matter

"Civilization spent most of its existance without it."

We will never have freedom when people embrace their own slavery.
This slavery is a result of the tools of authority.
Until life on this planet is based on mutual respect and consent
rather than force we will never have true freedom.

Revolution should be about dismantling the tools of domination
so that noone can abuse these tools ever again.

Prior to the advent of civilization freedom was inherent.

[Malva Zebrina]

6. there is no absolute freedom

but there are degrees of what we think, or commonly call freedom.

Many think we are free in this country---compared to what? (Gil Scott-Heron --same era as Janis Joplin)

Obviously we are not completely free to do what we want at all if we live in a structured society. and, for the survival of the group, this is necessary.

My personal definition of freedom is the notion within oneself that they are in control of their lives no matter how much squelching of outward freedoms occurs. In the mind, there is freedom and no one can violate that--the thing is one must be on the path and willing to know oneself or be in touch with oneself. Once in a while one meets a person that has achieved that confidence in their freedom, according to their inner self.

[info being]

7. Well said

I wouldn't change a word.