If people on the street were asked what their definition of freedom is, no two answers would match. There would be some common themes in their answers, but for the most part, everyone would have their idea of just what constitutes freedom. As our country struggles with this idea, determining just exactly what freedom requires we all take a hard look at it and find some consensus.
Right now, the majority of Americans can say that they enjoy the freedom that democracy brings and that has been enumerated in our Constitution, considered the pillar of our democracy:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. —That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, —That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”
That’s quite a series of statements — and each can be interpreted differently by any person depending on how they were raised, their gender, ethnicity, age, work and career, financial class, the environment they grew up in, family religious and political affiliations, the periods they’ve lived through, acts of God, military or civilian background, education, abilities and skill sets, life experiences — the list goes on.
Then there are the multitude of laws devised to ensure rights are protected, a judicial structure to uphold our laws and protect us from the predations of our fellow human beings, and government representatives we entrust to further promote democracy’s principles, ensure a strong and healthy infrastructure, and safeguard our country’s domestic and foreign interests.
All of these shape our understanding of what “real” freedom is. We rely heavily on the complicated machinations of agencies, organizations, corporations, foundations, and governments from local to federal to monitor and keep the gears of progress and democracy well-greased. Through all of that, we are allowed to pursue our dreams, move about at will, and pursue our versions of happiness.
Unfortunately, the wants and needs of various individuals and groups are clashing for one simple reason: different understandings of what freedom is. One of the primary issues at work here is the concept of “entitlement.”
The thing about entitlement is that so many entitled people never earned their sense of entitlement. They’re relying on their gender, ethnicity, religion, money, name, job and title, status, ancestry, awards, education, number of “likes” they’ve received, their ZIP Code — you name it, they’ve rationalized that they’re justly superior, all deserving and that their freedom rates higher than yours.
This has led to an “anything goes” mindset in which individuals feel they have the freedom to do as they please. People are now waving the flag of “rights violation,” crying foul because they feel they shouldn’t be censored for anything they do no matter how hurtful, damaging, and destructive to others, their property, emotional well-being, and livelihoods.
Entitlement has also led to an all-time low in terms of respect, consideration, and compassion for others. Conversely, it’s led to an all-time high in shaming, bullying, denigrating, ostracizing, banning, attacking, and terrorizing.
We are a country under attack — from within. Non-stop fear and anxiety have clouded our thinking and cornered our emotions so that the only option we feel we have left is to react in anger, petulance, and defensiveness, and exclusion of those we don’t understand and who don’t fit within our “reality” parameters. People are striking out at anyone they fear and claiming they’re exercising their “freedom” and that they have a Constitutional right to do so.
Right now, we have people actively working to create a country based on their particular brand of freedom, which has a lot to do with what works for them beyond the needs and rights of specific groups, namely: minorities (people of color, LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, non-Christian religions, Native Americans, indigenous people, veterans, people with disabilities, women, the unhoused, and working-class people).
This kind of “freedom” believes that discrimination and suppression are acceptable, that the re-enslavement of people is acceptable, that economic subjugation is acceptable, that their particular beliefs and values supersede all others — and that all of this is sanctioned by God-on-high, meaning they’re right and you’re wrong.
That kind of freedom is person and group-specific, full of conditions and criteria that enumerate whether you’re in or not. Essentially, it’s highly divisive, creating demarcations for those who consider themselves elite so that they can consolidate power, control, authority, resources, wealth, and status. They fully believe in a class system — as long as they’re at the top.
Let’s get real — conditional freedom isn’t freedom, not for the group enforcing their version of freedom or those subdued by it. The upshot is that eventually …
- everyone becomes trapped, enslaved by a system that becomes rigid, unrelenting in its adherence to “the rules;” step out of line and there could be dire consequences,
- this kind of system becomes infested with corruption as those enamored with power, control, authority, status, and greed abuse the system to satisfy their agendas, and
- ethics, justice, and morality are distorted beyond recognition simply to protect the interests of the powerful and wealthy elite.
This is exactly what’s occurring in our country today. Special interests that have powerful sponsors with tremendous wealth backing them are dismantling democracy. They’re cutting away our freedoms piece by piece and so many people are falling for the hyperbole and promises of those wanting to have it all. We are the proverbial frog in a pot slowly boiling to death.
It’s time to remove our blinders, re-engage our critical thinking skills, and stop being followers willingly letting others think for us. We must stop blindly adhering to authority, dogma, party lines, myths, conspiracies, and the paranoia of others. We need to question, do unflagging research, and stop tacitly accepting whatever we’re fed. To not do so will lead to our demise.
Of course, what’s required is a re-alignment with what true freedom is …
the right to be who we desire to be,
the right to seek meaningful fulfillment in our lives,
the right to have equal access to the same resources available to all,
the right to be treated with equitable respect, consideration, dignity, and justice,
the right to live without suppression, discrimination, marginalization, and segregation,
and to uphold the understanding that your freedom ends where mine begins — and vice versa.
All of this is predicated on the understanding that we enjoy this freedom by “no harm” to others, their property, and their livelihoods. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves.”
We’re all on this journey together, no person above another. We are each a unique masterpiece here to let our light shine, not to dim the light of others — let’s shine together!
