Born: June 9, 1972
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January 27, 2004 at 08:27 am
Blogger Idol - Week 2: Freedom ("Living With Freedom")
Living with…
free·dom n.
1. The condition of being free of restraints.
Thankfully, I have never been incarcerated, bound, shackled, or any of the other various terms that infer “restraints.” America is a benign country. We can do or say anything we want without fear of being restrained. There are the sad occasions when unfortunate persons become kidnapped, used as hostages…stuck in wells (see Baby Jessica, 1987). I have had none of these experiences.
Neither have I been seriously injured or incapacitated in ways that one might consider a “restraint.” I have been in casts ( broken bones can hardly be considered a lack of “freedom” ). I have been ill. But none of these for very long. Regretfully, some people are, in fact, terminally restrained by their frailty.
2. Liberty of the person from slavery, detention, or oppression.Again, living in America poses nary of these adjectives (save the outcome of breaking the law and being caught for it). I pray for those who must suffer these experiences on a daily basis. I cannot even begin to know what it feels like to live under these conditions. In my opinion, people who feel like they still do experience these things while living in America should reevaluate their lives. Poor circumstance, bad location, lack of money, no education… These are opressions that people in other countries could only hope for.
3.I see protesters every day; sign-carrying fanatics that feel like their presence is making a difference either politically, socially, or religiously. These people prove my safety in this regard. I can be political or not. I can believe that I can make a difference or I can sit at home and complain about our society while I watch the news. I can be a democrat, a rebublican, a socialist, a fascist…a mixture of every political slant that humandkind has devised. No worries. I’m safe.
- Political independence.
- Exemption from the arbitrary exercise of authority in the performance of a specific action; civil liberty: freedom of assembly.
4. Exemption from an unpleasant or onerous condition: freedom from want.My freedom isn’t waning here is it? Have we finally come to the chains that will hold me from complete freedom in my life? If the epitome of “want” is “envy,” then quite possibly, I am a slave! Let us not forget what Jesus said in John 8:34: “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” But if I remember correctly, though I will struggle with these chains, they will not bind me forever, for Jesus came to free me from them. Thank you, Jesus, I am still a free man.
5. The capacity to exercise choice; free will: We have the freedom to do as we please all afternoon.I feel like I have this capacity. Do I? Surely, I can do what I want… If I want to. But, do I want to? Or am I held, in some way, from doing it?
6. Ease or facility of movement: loose sports clothing, giving the wearer freedom.I met a former nudist a couple of weeks ago. Though he may not quite be a former nudist (as he still may practice in his own home), but someone who has had to conform to the (opressive?) etiquette of our society. While I have always thought of myself as a fairly casual person, usually free from what I consider constrictive clothing, I do think that my nudist friend has felt true freedom of movement (only to be placed in the constraints of prudish lawmakers). But I am not Jewish, or Muslim, or Amish, or even Mormom. When I put my clothes on, I don’t have to think about proper attire (to appease my religion or my job). All I have to think about is comfort and style. Hardly a lack of freedom.
7. Frankness or boldness; lack of modesty or reserve: the new freedom in movies and novels.Here’s another area in which I may find a slight lack of liberty. There are times when I can stand to be a bit more assertive — to stand up for my rights and speak my mind. Oh, the humanity. I feel so oppressed. Yeah, right.
8.Wow. I’m American. I’m Christian. I belong to all of the right clubs and organizations (ok, I don’t really belong to any, but if I wanted to I could). I am so privledged that I can’t even stand it. Where do my freedoms end?!
- The right to unrestricted use; full access: was given the freedom of their research facilities.
- The right of enjoying all of the privileges of membership or citizenship: the freedom of the city.
9. A right or the power to engage in certain actions without control or interference: “the seductive freedoms and excesses of the picaresque form” (John W. Aldridge).I wrote this Blog entry didn’t I? And who’s gonna stop me? Sure, I’m being sarcastic. But really, isn’t that what it’s all about? I’m aware that not everything we do is going to be without control or interference (especially in other countries and cultures), but for the most part, my life is fairly free of these. I can go where I want to without hassle. I can visit the people I know. I can read the books I want to read.
I know freedom without a doubt. I thank God for this, but I know that there are countless other that should be thanked as well. I do continue to pray for others that are unable to taste the freedom that I do. My heart aches for those who have been oppressed either by regimes or wrong decisions.
Definition of “freedom” taken from Dictionary.com.
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