Freedom

[Tamujiin]

Do you belive we in the free world, no matter what country you live in, are actually free?

 

For instance in America people have a right to bear arms, own a gun, and if they have a permit, they can use it anywhere to "defend" themselves with deadly force.

 

For instance in america you cant smoke in a bar ( pub to you english gents ) in some states, but you can drink till you get poofaced drunk, drive home and die.

 

For instance in america rich dumbass corporate CEO's are in charge of the goverment. Not people like you and I. All i need to say is %&$! cheney, you'll understand.

 

BUT for instance I can buy a pack of ciggerettes, a case of beer, an ounce of weed, a gram of cocaine, a gram of heroin, a gram of meth, Do it all up, shoot 10 people and not get the death penalty, because my state doesnt mandate it.

 

I am An american, and i guess the question i am trying to ask is, if you live in free country, no matter what country it is, if you feel it is free explain why, or why not you are free.

 

I belive that As an american i am still in one of the freest countrys in the world. if i dont break the law i can really do what ever the hell i want when i want where i want how i want to who i want. with out having to explain myself.

 

My issue is the media. which gives me another idea for a topic here......

[bben46]

Once upon a time we were more free than now. You are only free to do what 'they' allow. Yes, the 'Law' says you can carry a gun. But just try to carry one down the street and see how quickly a cop shows up to say you can't carry it 'here'.

 

When I was in High School, I would guess that at any given time half of the cars in the parking lot, both students and teachers had a gun in them. Most were hunting guns, but pistols were not uncommon. Many of these guns were prominently displayed in the back windows of pickup trucks. We no longer have that freedom. If you are seen within a mile of a school with a gun you are automatically branded a 'terrorist'.

 

As to the rest of the world, well, people are still risking death to get into the US. There must be a reason.

[Lisnpuppy]

Freedom and the concept therein is a flux and fickle mistress. There must be a balance in freedom and safety of the whole. That is when the constitution "usually" is given its most conservative interpretations...to protect a group freedom and safety over the individual. As we know our system that gives us freedom can often be used to manipulate it (as recent examples can be shown.)

 

Americans can be as free as they wish to be. However to have more freedom we must give up safety. Or we can be safe from terror, crime, etc at the expense of individual freedom.

 

I am of the thought that freedoms greatest protector is the educated citizen. Freedom is taken away from people when they either don't know it or don't have the information to understand.

 

Today is a primary election in my home State of West Virginia. I am voting even if I don't think it makes a difference at this point. I have read, listened, studied etc as best as I can. I have used the media but this is not all I use. People MUST become educated to their world. Read, debate etc. Exercise your freedoms to get the knowledge you need to protect yourself and your freedoms. If you have a belief then great, but be able to say I belive this BECAUSE of...not that it is just spoon fed to you via the media, parents, community, etc. It is lack of knowledge that makes us scared and lash out at different things.

 

Also one must remember that every freedom given will eventually infringe on another. A balance must be struck, a compromise made (as our forefathers intended) and there must be give and take. If we can all remember this and accept this we can live in a world with more freedoms and rights than we can shake a stick at! It will never be perfect but it can be beautiful.

 

As for America sharing its freedom with the world. The concept itself is innocent enough. However each people and person must choose their own path. Freedom and democracy is NOT the same thing. Despite most Americans belief we are not a TRUE democracy. America is a REPUBLIC. Rarely do we vote for a law directly. We vote for representatives to vote for the community belief. Democracy is NOT always interchagable. with freedom. My vision of freedom is not the same as yours and to attempt for whatever reson to enforce your vision onto someone else is to take away the right of another. We must be careful to make sure that the hand we hold out to the world is not the one that eventually beats it down!

 

But to talk, dream and debate is good for us as a people and that is the ultimate freedom that America has. Its restrictions are not governmental but society based. I don't worry about political correctness which is laughable. I was raised to be RESPECTFUL of others. When you have true respect then you don't need to be "politically correct."

 

I believe we can make things better but must start with ourselves. Start as an individual and work your way out to your family, community, state and nation.

 

To paraphrase Robert Kennedy

I see what is and ask why. I dream of what could be and ask, why not.

 

 

Now...I step off the soap box to let another come up...

[nosisab]

Freedom and the concept therein is a flux and fickle mistress. There must be a balance in freedom and safety of the whole. That is when the constitution "usually" is given its most conservative interpretations...to protect a group freedom and safety over the individual. As we know our system that gives us freedom can often be used to manipulate it (as recent examples can be shown.)

 

Americans can be as free as they wish to be. However to have more freedom we must give up safety. Or we can be safe from terror, crime, etc at the expense of individual freedom.

 

I am of the thought that freedoms greatest protector is the educated citizen. Freedom is taken away from people when they either don't know it or don't have the information to understand.

 

Today is a primary election in my home State of West Virginia. I am voting even if I don't think it makes a difference at this point. I have read, listened, studied etc as best as I can. I have used the media but this is not all I use. People MUST become educated to their world. Read, debate etc. Exercise your freedoms to get the knowledge you need to protect yourself and your freedoms. If you have a belief then great, but be able to say I belive this BECAUSE of...not that it is just spoon fed to you via the media, parents, community, etc. It is lack of knowledge that makes us scared and lash out at different things.

 

Also one must remember that every freedom given will eventually infringe on another. A balance must be struck, a compromise made (as our forefathers intended) and there must be give and take. If we can all remember this and accept this we can live in a world with more freedoms and rights than we can shake a stick at! It will never be perfect but it can be beautiful.

 

As for America sharing its freedom with the world. The concept itself is innocent enough. However each people and person must choose their own path. Freedom and democracy is NOT the same thing. Despite most Americans belief we are not a TRUE democracy. America is a REPUBLIC. Rarely do we vote for a law directly. We vote for representatives to vote for the community belief. Democracy is NOT always interchagable. with freedom. My vision of freedom is not the same as yours and to attempt for whatever reson to enforce your vision onto someone else is to take away the right of another. We must be careful to make sure that the hand we hold out to the world is not the one that eventually beats it down!

 

But to talk, dream and debate is good for us as a people and that is the ultimate freedom that America has. Its restrictions are not governmental but society based. I don't worry about political correctness which is laughable. I was raised to be RESPECTFUL of others. When you have true respect then you don't need to be "politically correct."

 

I believe we can make things better but must start with ourselves. Start as an individual and work your way out to your family, community, state and nation.

 

To paraphrase Robert Kennedy

I see what is and ask why. I dream of what could be and ask, why not.

 

 

Now...I step off the soap box to let another come up...

All I thought to say here isn't necessary anymore, you said it all, Lisnpuppy and to us is just good 'to listen' what you said. Your words are universal, they are valid to all of us, in all countries.

[Lisnpuppy]

Nosisab,

 

Thank you for your kind words. This was just my humble opinion. Far be it from me that has seen so little proclaim to know so much.

I love this forum because it gives me the opportunity to talk and discuss things with people from places I would otherwise maybe not get to do.

I love my country and its system, but it is not infallible. And when the system breaks we as citizens have no one to blame but ourselves.

Each free person (no matter where they are) is the guardian of freedom and we MUST hold those in power accountable for when those freedoms are sullied.

 

Please feel free to put anything up you want. I am sure not to have said it all and am always ready to learn from others.

 

 

Yours,

Lisa

[nosisab]

Nosisab,

 

Thank you for your kind words. This was just my humble opinion. Far be it from me that has seen so little proclaim to know so much.

I love this forum because it gives me the opportunity to talk and discuss things with people from places I would otherwise maybe not get to do.

I love my country and its system, but it is not infallible. And when the system breaks we as citizens have no one to blame but ourselves.

Each free person (no matter where they are) is the guardian of freedom and we MUST hold those in power accountable for when those freedoms are sullied.

 

Please feel free to put anything up you want. I am sure not to have said it all and am always ready to learn from others.

 

 

Yours,

Lisa

If I could I would :) but you really condensed the principles that must guide us when measuring between what we can and what we must.

[Tamujiin]

I also belive that, in the world, many countrys are not free. Corruption, everywhere, even here, people dont have the balls to stand up and say hey! As the majority We want this to change!

 

the problemi see with the people of the earth, all country's andall nations is that those who do most of the work, the ones that support the goverment by paying taxes, the ones who work for 25 cents a day, get there voices shut out by corporate dollars.

 

What happened to American made? ( if your an american you'll know what i mean) What happened to all of that? 80% of the toys i buyt for my childeren are made in china. My goverment in the last 30 years or so has sold out to the cheapest bidder and sacrificed our Economic value, you all know whats going on in America.

 

No offense to china, i love the culture there and what not.

 

Speaking of China.....Yet another Debate topic.

[Lisnpuppy]

I also belive that, in the world, many countrys are not free. Corruption, everywhere, even here, people dont have the balls to stand up and say hey! As the majority We want this to change!

 

the problemi see with the people of the earth, all country's andall nations is that those who do most of the work, the ones that support the goverment by paying taxes, the ones who work for 25 cents a day, get there voices shut out by corporate dollars.

 

What happened to American made? ( if your an american you'll know what i mean) What happened to all of that? 80% of the toys i buyt for my childeren are made in china. My goverment in the last 30 years or so has sold out to the cheapest bidder and sacrificed our Economic value, you all know whats going on in America.

 

No offense to china, i love the culture there and what not.

 

Speaking of China.....Yet another Debate topic.

 

 

Money and power have always tried and often been successful in drowning out those weaker. However it takes 2 people to be a doormat. One to walk and one to get walked UPON. Things are not that different than they have been throughout history. People must make a choice to act. Each individual must decide what and how much to do to secure their freedom. One alone can not make the change, but one alone can start it.

[Tamujiin]

this may be harsh , But people need to quit running like rats to the crums and act like mankind should, with a loud voice, start speaking about what they desire. cause a little chaos, a little disorder. Rework our goverments and redifine who our leaders should be. I dont mean start killing, because that goes on all the time anyway. We are so used to it, chaos and disorder would be to stop killing each other and get along, elect people, not politicians. Get rid of our weapons and live in peace. And i dont say america, i say the entire world down to the last person. in only that way could it happen. And only then could we actually be totally free, within the boundries of what can be considered, Laws morals, ect ect ect.

 

A leader is not a leader, without his followers.

[Chesto]

Freedom is a myth, a sentiment, a club that politicians, big business, admen, and other monomaniacs, use to beat us over the head with. Everywhere in the world. To get us to accept and conform to their view of the material world. Every power hungry creep of what ever political, religious, whatever, hue always uses the buzz word, Freedom.

 

It is a word used to blind us to the fact that there are so many 'events' happening at every level of our lives over which we have no control, and over which we can never have control. The best one can do is to try to look clearly at one's own life and to try to live that life in as righteous ( not a religious monopoly ) a way as is possible.

 

It will be painful. It will be joyful. But it will be yours to do, and only yours. What ever happens as a result of trying to live one's life that way might just approach some kind of approximation of 'freedom'.