I YEARN TO BE FREE
I yearn to be free. This is an instinct that is ingrained within all of humankind. It is a concept that drives people to the heights of ecstasy or the depths of depression. This concept starts revolutions, ends oppressions and halts slavery. Yet the opposite is also true. From a different vantage point the concept freedom is the accelerant that will ignite people’s to oppress others in a perverted form of chain making.
There are differing concepts of freedom and each one is as different as the number of people on this planet. For one person or group, a well for water in the middle of their village would be a form of freedom rather than having to travel a few miles to carry their daily supply back to their individual families. To others freedom could be the suppression of a certain group of people so that the oppressors would not have to perform certain tasks they deemed beneath them.
But freedom should be striven for as the attainment or progress of self or group within the confines of human decency.
So where does government fit into this scenario? Any form of government is a form of oppression on one level or another. But without government the world would sink into the depths of anarchy. So taken as such, some form of government is necessary in order to insure freedom.
So what does it mean to yearn to be free? Is it to live without the rule of law? To disregard respect and honor to others? To let one’s ego drive oneself to enslave another to the detriment of that individual and in reality to both parties involved? Is true freedom actually attainable? In all reality the answer is no. The only way to be released from the influence of others, laws and government is through death. Even then some would say we are influenced someway and somehow though reincarnation or an afterlife.
Is the concept of freedom something to strive for? Absolutely. To have the freedom to walk down a street without the threat of being assaulted. To believe what you believe without the threat of being bullied assaulted or even put to death. To encompass thoughts opinions and actions for the betterment of the whole rather than the few.
The number one responsibility of government is the health and welfare of the people. The number one legal function of this government is to protect the borders and print money. How these two ideas intermingle with each other create a juxtaposition of progress and freedom.
There are some who would say that freedom should never come at the expense of another. I cannot make that statement as one person’s freedom will always come with a loss. It is unavoidable. But one should strive for a freedom that has little if any adverse effect on another. It does come down to the laws of harmony and balance in our universe. Also adapted to this is the basic law of physics stating for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. These wise words should lend one’s actions be thoughtful and cautionary. But never stagnant. To stagnate is to rot and to rot is to die. Not the kind of freedom most wish to seek.
One must be cognizant of the fact for every gain there is a loss. But loss does not always have to be negative. One person’s financial gain could be used for the betterment of others. Which would cause the latter to lose a detrimental situation. Balance. Harmony. Gain and loss. All fulfilled.
Rousseau’s Social Contract as I interpret it tells of a societal balance. Briefly stated. A society should never ask for more than an individual can give and an individual should never ask for more than that society can give. There is a balance and harmony to this which elevates that particular society to another level of freedom. But it must also be recognized that freedom comes with rules. These rules must be formulated in the best interest of that society and if conjoined with other societies as we have at present then these rules must be formulated in the best interest of all societies affected. And seeing that everything affects everything else in one way or another all societies must take great care to avoid formulating policies that are detrimental to one another. The laws of molecular attraction state as such. We are all composed of the same molecular structure and each one of us has the same magnetic poles within out systems therefore in one sense we all attract and affect each other in one way or another. To achieve some semblance of freedom we must recognize this and be aware of the negative aspects of overdone isolationist and nationalistic policies. They are doomed to failure from the start as they are adverse to all laws of physics, economics, finance, spirituality, progress and growth in the long run.
There are those who would scream this is socialism. On the contrary in no way shape or form have I espoused socialism or capitalism. I am referring to a sense of thoughtful cooperation between diverse societies. Cooperation that lends itself to discovering the commonalities that exist between us rather than the differences and there are a great many things in common. When pursuing this path one will come to recognize there exists a sense of progress and growth for all. Not the same for all on the same level for we all start at differing strata but the increase of progress will have a common ratio of success. And the bottom line will be the very starting point we began to strive for. Freedom.
Ric Wells/Akecheta
3/16/2017
Comments
To me, freedom is a philosophical word that can only concern the mind. Basics have to be met. But, as you know by having lived in the mountains for long, only by learning to re-feel nature and our connection to it, freedom of mind is possible.
When we understand that the world does not turn around US but that we're only a small grain of sand on a vast beach, we're well on the way to get our ego adjusted to what it is in reality.
One can see the beach from a plane but not one grain. It's not me or you that is important. It's us all which make up that beach.
Only - we're not aware of it apparently.
Quite an error, useful in stone age, but nowadays the methods have changed. But the human brain hasn't changed in those approx lousy 50'000 years since our species has emerged.
Neither, Ric. Not so fast, now. Wars are rarely fought over superiority/inferiority principles. Feelings of superiority are used as propaganda both ways. "They think they're superior to us" and "We're superior to our enemy" work as war cries. That's all.
Possibly, but each of us can find such feelings if we look deep enough. We're all here today because of the successes of all of our ancestors. We should all hold some sense of pride. Superiority is more of a divisive word, but you certainly hope to believe you are superior when marching into battle. You need that sense, that confidence.
Feelings of superiority are used as propaganda both ways.
True, but we getting off from nature to propaganda. Self-assurance (not self-importance) is needed that you get out of bed in the morning. It's quite easy to get a single guy off his ego trip when you have a person-to-person discussion and the guy has a minimal IQ equipment. The problem comes in when he has NOT, and then your propaganda catches up. Only an inferiority complex or lack of education and/or life experience can lead to a mass of sheep unable to think for themselves.
And that's what society is turning into in the age of digitalization. You can google LIFE means you KNOW life ;-)
But in future the fittest will be the ones who realize that. .....goes back to nature again. Only: Nature has no say in that. We act according to OUR biological nature while at the same time DESTROYING it.
So "god" really fucked up. Since he/she/it/.... made us according to hishersits image......no good, creator.
Off you go and mind the gap (thanks Jeffry ;-)
Certainly not the façade of freedom that multigenerational U.S. citizens live with today. Freedom is not lifelong debt, huge taxes and allegiance to Israel. Not for me or any fellow American. Freedom does require security, or it's just chaos. Freedom requires the very best, uncorrupt leadership and a semblance of national identity and unity. American freedom is lacking in most of these virtues.
if we are all basucally the same how can one be superior to another.
First you have to realize that we're all the same to avoid a feeling of superiority. Tom discusses it from another angle than you. While you get to the roots of it, he already looks at the AS IS condition.
Means I see a gap between yout and Tom's comments. Am I wrong ?
Forgive me but I didn't fully grasp your longer comment to me. Can you condense it for me so I can respond accordingly?
Inequality is natural
I'm not sure. What IS inequality ? Or, better asked: What's equality ? Who defines it ? Is a mentally handicapped person which has a rich emotional life and cares for others less valued than a IQ genius of 140 who works for Apple and has the single goal to get on top no matter how ?
Before we can discuss equality vs. inequality we have to discuss VALUE of life. Value of a human = profitable to whichever economy.
That's EVERYWHERE, and is needed for survival of the group. But in old cultures the old and the handicapped were taken care of and were accepted as full members of a community (I see that even today in Cameroon).
This is what I call a form of equality.
Not that gender propaganda shit which makes me think who's got the IQ in those days ?? ;-)
What is it that is not clear ?
The number one responsibility of government is the health and welfare of the people. The number one legal function of this government is to protect the borders and print money. How these two ideas intermingle with each other create a juxtaposition of progress and freedom."
Regarding this, part of the original essay Ric: First paragraph, yes! Second one, yes! And no, it is not "socialism" which seems to be a frightening word to the Americans. It is good sense.
Picking up on what equality is: being equal does not mean that we should all be the same. I think that, say, equality is about the love of God/ Universal light/ spirit being the same for every human being, as in the rain pours on the good, the bad and the ugly, as does the sunshine. But we are all individuals and none of us are the same. Nothing wrong in being different and "equality" does not preclude this.
Huh ? Nope. Just don't know what you mean...
That said I live in a country who's very name means country of free people. They're fucking serious about it in their every day lives and perspective.
I have never been more free anywhere other than at sea alone thousands of miles from anywhere the shore bound call somewhere than I am here.
DUHmericans for the most part can't handle the freedom here. 99% of them ask me how I can stand to live in "this crazy country", what they're really asking is how can I stand to live where someone or something doesn't have their jackboot on my neck 24/7/365.
In the final analysis freedom means being able to say no and have it mean something when you do.
"Briefly stated. A society should never ask for more than an individual can give and an individual should never ask for more than that society can give."
but it begs the question: "Just who is society?"
Do I just shout out the window "I need food, shelter and clothing" and "society" responds in kind??? Do I get a certified letter from "society" that states I am "entitled" to so much goods and services?
Let Dr Friedman educate us:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsx1X8PV_A
"DUHmericans for the most part can't handle the freedom here."
The Welfare State has institutionalized government dependency and has destroyed the will to be free. By the way - where is "here"?
But it is very clear, from many of the threads, that we are essentially discussing or trying to analyse the human condition and our place in it. Just who or what the hell are we I wonder!
"So Mike I guess you have never driven on an interstate or attended a public school eaten a tax supported school lunch walked in a public park."
is a typical liberal tactic - throw in unrelated material in an attempt to invalidate the opposition's point, and then "shame" them. Your Saul Alinksy Playbook crap doesn't fly anymore - so drop it. Nobody said that the Welfare State includes legitimate government functions, or that we don't need a government. There is a "rule book" that "progressives" constantly ignore when it doesn't suit their objectives called the Constitution - if you want to know what the legitimate function of the Federal Government is, try reading it.
"Just who is society?"
Do I just shout out the window "I need food, shelter and clothing" and "society" responds in kind??? Do I get a certified letter from "society" that states I am "entitled" to so much goods and services?
I hate to make people defend their own nonsense (well, not actually) but it is a simple, legitimate question. Answer it!
First=Lets see. Black's Law Dictionary
Society- An association or company of persons (generally unincorporated) united together by mutual consent, in order to deliberate, determine and act jointly for some common purpose.
Second-I have never read Saul Alinksy. So stop making assumptions.
Third-Telling me to drop something is an attempt to negate my right to free speech. Pure bullying tactics which will land on deaf ears.
Fourth-Maybe you better open your eyes to see what is happening in the nation let alone the world.
Fifth- I highly suggest you expand your sources of information and your reading material. You seem to be getting blinded by your own tunnel vision.
Just a suggestion I recommend some Sardoz, Niehardt, Deloria, Means, Nerburn, Marshall, Manuel, Goodwin, Zinn, That should get you started to expanding your frames of reference for comparisons sake. There are plenty more to follow up.