What is Freedom?

I remember being asked like three weeks ago, decscribe what freedom is in one word and why? At the time when this question was posed to me, I answered the question with some time of answer as freedom is politics because politics gives us the liberties and rights that we have and use. Without the politics than how much freedom would we have. Therefore I pose the question, what is freedom to you? Is freedom having the right to vote but not using it? Is freedom having the right to obtain a higher education but deciding not to? Is freedom being able to own the most expensive cars, clothes and other avenues but not knowing how to speak correctly?

What is freedom? What does freedom really grant you? Why do we even use the word freedom when the very freedoms that we have in America, we as American citizens born and raised don't even capitalize on them and use to max them out. Yes we are quick to use the freedom of expression in terms of free speech and the right to assemble but what about the freedom to not register to vote but to vote for who you want. The right to walk or drive to the polls on election day and cast a ballot that most people around the world don't have the right today.

I remember being in South Africa this summer, meeting with political officials and listening to how relatively new South Africa's democracy was and how the people of the country were so eager to go out and vote in 1994 when the country elected Nelson Mendela as South Africa's first black and democratic President. Now from the photographs I viewed while touring the country, I saw hundreds of thousands of long lines of people lined up just to just a ballot cause they were excited to vote and excited to vote for people who were going to make a difference.

Recently I remember seeing election lines in Afghanistan and Iraq where the citizens were lined up in lines that stretched at least one block long in those countries. Those citizens were eager to vote in their countries democratic elections and thus far, they have continued to be involved in their countries politics because they are tired of American forces being over there and they are tired of their current elected officials not being able to meet the needs of all the people in the country so far. However. These elections might be relatively new but the people in those countries love the fact they have the right to vote. South Africans told me that they take voting so serious because they know what could happen if the right people or party isn't in office. South Africans both young and old, black, white, or mixed say that the best thing that could have happened to their country is that apartheid is over and that all people have the right to vote.


Well I found this read to be quite interesting on the definition of Freedom, therefore I hope you enjoy it too but remember Freedom is whatever you define it to be but it is nothing without the nature of politics and governance which makes the rules and regulations (laws) that govern man.

A Definition of Freedom
By Julie Watner

Freedom is a mental condition-a condition of the spirit. All of us are free, if we but choose to acknowledge it. To borrow from Rose Wilder Lane, freedom is control of self. The essence of your "self" is your mind, soul, and spirit. We all are always free to change our thoughts, improve our knowledge and understanding, change our attitudes and beliefs-the inner part of each of us. We do need more folks to recognize that they already are FREE!

Liberty is a condition of the physical body: the absence of physical restraints. We seek liberty to use our resources, time, intelligence, and energy in the most beneficial (to us) way.

A productive, healthy society of freedom-and liberty-minded individuals is not to be confused with a libertine one. The conditions of liberty and freedom, above all, require individual responsibility in every phase of life. Each of us must take the consequences of our actions, good and bad. This is not easy, especially with our Big Brother the State standing by to present at least the illusion of "help" with every aspect of our lives.

Because the root of the problem (irresponsibility) is so ingrained, trying to convince others to live the freedom ideas through slogans, speeches, and hype is usually short on results. At best they provide the spark which causes an individual to seek out new information.

The "library of freedom"-books, pamphlets, newspapers, and magazines-not only documents man's quest from ancient times forward, but also is an important, longer lasting way to spread the word and fan the spark of interest into a flame.

But "plain-Jane" and unexciting as it sounds, I believe the most effective way to spread the freedom idea is to educate ourselves and raise our children to be honest, knowledgeable, confident, responsible lovers of freedom-to light a single candle. If each one of us lights another candle, and each of those follows suit, the freedom ideas will grow from a quiet bonfire to a WILDFIRE engulfing everything in its path.

Living in an environment of liberty and freedom is akin to being a parent-it is the best of times; it is the worst of times. With neither can you ever relax your vigilance, there is always work to be done, you are always being called upon to exercise new skills, and improve upon old ones. There is a tremendous amount of worry involved, also discouragement and uncertainty. On the other hand, it is hard to convey to a non-parent, just as to a statist, the joys, rewards, exhilaration, and satisfactions that make the responsibilities worthwhile. You just have to have faith, jump in, and DO IT!

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