As the song goes
Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose
Or is there more to the state of real freedom? Today we see our freedoms being taken away little by little by an administration more bent on power than on the purpose of democratic government, protecting individual and overall freedom.
The dictionary offers a variety of definitions for freedom including
the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint
Living in a nation founded on principles of liberty and justice for all gives me hope that one day we will live in a state of real freedom. Follow over the fold for more of the possum's pondering and consideration of freedom.
In that future time people will be free to make choices about their lives in terms of where they will live and for whom they will work (including the freedom to choose not to work or to work for one’s self). People will be free to speak their mind without worrying about what governmental agency is listening to the conversation. People will feel free to pursue any knowledge area without worrying about the government coming to their door to ask about their reasons for studying foreign languages or any other subject.
Government in a democracy as described in the founding principles of the United States should be in the position of protecting the freedoms granted in our Constitution. Real and substantive government is of the people, by the people, and for the people as the ideals are expressed in our Constitution. No democratic government would ever deny any citizen their inherent rights under the guiding principles of participatory governance.
Today we hear on a near daily basis of our losses in this nation. We are losing our rights to free speech as we find ourselves restricted to
Free Speech Zones
if we choose to protest our President’s actions. We hear of ongoing monitoring programs to search our e-mail and telephone conversations.
Just last night I heard a First Amendment attorney tell a tale of surveillance that was frightening. Any person in the nation is allowed under the rules of the Freedom of Information Act to ask the FBI for a copy of that individual’s file. The attorney stated
If no file exists one will be created following the request for information.
Is there no right to privacy left at all in this nation of our? Or are we all to be suspects in response to our acting on our Constitutional rights?
Freedom is a principle upon which our Founding Fathers gave birth to the nation. In those days the repression by English monarchs and the English government were found to be too much for many people. Wishing to obtain true freedom men and women risked their very lives for a new way of life. Throughout our history as a nation we have seen other people take the same risks in an effort to protect our freedom and our national sovereignty.
Today we stand at a crossroads in national history. Today we each and every one must choose if or not to stand for freedom. We have the option of giving up our freedom for a variety of reasons including "security." As Benjamin Franklin said so very well
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
Freedom means so much to any human being today. There are always societal limits that mean one person cannot act to the detriment of others, and yet each individual deserves the right to freedom of choice and of action within his or her own life.
For myself and just for today I live in a world in which freedom rules. Limited for sure by the government and by various other restrictions but yet I am able to speak my mind in most instances. I am free to travel with some limits. I am free to work or not at my discretion. I believe every human being alive today deserves at least those minimal freedoms. How do we insure real freedom for one and all? Can we return to a state of real freedom in the United States one day?
Peace.
A gentle reminder for one and all. I am running for Congress, DE-AL. Please check out the website or the ActBlue page and support the effort. Your help is needed for the effort to succeed. Contributions of all sorts, both moral and monetary are most appreciated.