This is one of life’s most precious gifts. But even gifts require maintenance, appreciation, and responsibility. And the nature of freedom implies inherent risks. You cannot have freedom and at the same time expect total protection and safety.
The freedom to drive a car, comes with the possibility of becoming involved in an accident. The freedom to make our own decisions includes accepting the consequences that result from our choices. And freedom as a citizen means that the police, the armed forces, secret government agencies and the government itself, cannot always keep us safe against others.
In the aftermath of 911, we have closed our eyes while the government has slowly chipped away at our rights. We have condoned, by our silence, the use of torture. We would have condemned another country if they had behaved likewise. We have looked the other way as individuals in our country have been whisked off the street, imprisoned and denied outside communication, based solely on vague suspicions, ethnic background, personal beliefs or reading preferences.
We have been so intent on revenge that we have stood by while the executive branch over reached their their position, made their own rules and led us into a war, through propaganda and false information, in order to pursue their personal agenda.
I realize that certain precautioned are necessary. Airline security, background checks for violent affiliations before foreigners enter the country, cooperation between the various government organizations so pertinent information can be assimilated to implement precautions to prevent violence against US citizens.
But the gift of freedom requires certain responsibilities. It requires that we don’t give up our rights out of fear. It requires that we value human rights, civil rights and demand the truth from our officials even when it is uncomfortable to hear. It requires that we honor justice but not revenge. It means that we have the integrity to admit our mistakes and the virtue to make the appropriate changes. It means that we refuse to join in on a witch hunt. It requires that we acknowledge that force, compromising human rights, relinquishing personal liberties are not compatible with freedom. And it mean the we accept that complete control and life without risks is not only the antithesis of freedom but also impossible.
To remain truly free, we must upload the principles of honesty, integrity, respect for all humans and tolerance for everyone’s personal beliefs.
War, torture, disregard for human rights, discounting the facts because they interfere with our agenda, looking the other way while our rights are being dismantled, and blindly accepting false justifications for questionable decisions are not about making ourselves and our country safer. They are about eradicating our feelings of powerlessness and the desire to be powerful and invincible. They are about justifying our hunger for revenge.They are about our mistaken belief that we can somehow make life completely safe, fully under our control in every situation or circumstance and convincing ourselves that we are totally blameless, totally noble and always right.
Perhaps we have decided that freedom is too great a responsibility. Perhaps we would rather give in to our fears, pain and out rage Perhaps we think that revenge and blame are the easiest, quickest way to silence our painful emotions. Perhaps we lack the courage to stand up for the principles of freedom when the going gets tough.
And if that is so, perhaps we lack the responsibility, appreciation and courage to retain the precious gift of freedom.
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Contributor's Note
Having Your Boss or Your Spouse looking over your shoulder is bad enough.
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