Just how much do you hate freedom? Silly question, right? Who would ever consider not being free? This nation after all is the “…land of the brave and home of the free.” Brave, and some self-admittedly not so brave souls have given the ultimate price to insure freedom for the people of this nation, and for others around the globe. However, there were no stipulations on what that hard-won freedom could look like.
The freedom that affords me the luxury of writing these thoughts for you to read also affords you the luxury to respond in approval or disapproval. Therein lies the dilemma: The duality of either/or thinking. Freedom is not about me being right while you’re wrong, or visa-versa. Freedom is about you and I both being right/wrong as are others too. Freedom is both/and thinking.
What if I champion a firm belief in peace? My activities and communication with others promote such a belief. Does this mean I cannot say something which is counter to the common mood if it’s going to disrupt my belief in peace towards others? Am I required to remain “humble” and not bring up a different viewpoint which might be interpreted as being “arrogant, brash, or hostile” from those who don’t share my beliefs?
What if in displaying my belief in peace I refuse to endorse people, companies, products, news, movies or music that glorifies violence? Am I free to call attention to these violent actions as a means to highlight peace if peace is apparently counter to the main-stream thought of the day? Am I permitted to proclaim peace by calling out hatred spoken from all sectors of class (i.e. rich, poor, upper class, lower class, white, black, red, brown, yellow) if “class” is simply used as a tool to create either/or thinking? Does freedom secure privileges to be violent when others don’t accept your depiction of independence?
True patriotism, versus party patriotism, endorses all freedom won which allows all people to express their beliefs, in whatever form, without holding one set of beliefs dominate over another. Yes, all people have opinions; but not every opinion will smell sweet to all. Freedom allows all opinions to be expressed, adopted or discarded without seeking conformity.
If you fail to recognize that there are a number of people groups (i.e. Indians, Negros, Chinese, Irish, Polish, woman, children) who were exploited and marginalized in the formation of this nation, then your story of history is hampering your social development. Believing that your group has the final say in what freedom looks like without considering a different belief from those I’ve mentioned will surely shock, and possibly send you into a tailspin.
Life, in all its various colors, matters when we look beyond the closed doors of our home or community and recognize that peace with my neighbor creates peace in my household. What will I do to insure peace with my neighbor? Should I try to understand how he sees freedom? Does my form of freedom keep him from feeling free in a country founded upon liberty gained by violence? Does my 2nd amendment over-rule his 1st amendment belief, amendments gained by violence to insure peace and tranquility for all?
Agreeing with or criticizing the actions of a few without consciously looking at the underlying issues they are presenting are not steps to creating peace as much as sweeping the issue under the rug, again. I for one, like my rugs to lay flat; yet it seems that the rugs of this nation appear more like the Rocky Mountains. It would appear that there is a vacuum in social discourse which is greatly needed among all of us, not just at the upper levels of government or academia. All voices need to be heard rather than a few who hold the bully-pulpit of the country. Freedom guarantees such luxuries.
Some of you may feel inclined to comment on my remarks here. I appreciate that, however, I dare you share this, whether you like it or not, as a part of your comment and then experience the culture of freedom we’ve created in this nation. Some of you may be surprised.
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