What does freedom mean?
07.15.2003If you're not reading Blue Bird Escape, you should. It's the blog of a young Iranian girl who's recently arrived in Europe. Here's her latest post:
Yesterday we went to a park nearby. The parks in Europe are way different than the parks in Iran. In Iran the people have to sit or walk. In Europe they can lie on the grass; women in bikinies, men shirtless. They can ride boats on the lake without being afraid of falling into the water. They can kiss under the trees and no one will ever care. They can sleep under the sun and ... This is freedom. Freedom is a word full of meanings. In some places freedom is closing the doors to music but letting humans breath. In others freedom is having a life with no remarks, no forces that tell you what to do, how to dress, or what not to write. I come from a country without freedom. That's why I know what freedom actually is.
For me, freedom means the ability to engage in a heated political argument w/ a stranger at a coffee shop and not worry that someone will come in and arrest, beat, or kill one of the participants. In about half the countries of the world, that's a very real concern. In this country, even the crazies benefit from tax-exempt status.
Posted by Miguel at 10:36 AM
Comments
I completely agree with your definition of freedom.
Posted by: Duane at July 16, 2003 06:33 AM
Hey, Miguel, some new guys who just moved into my house are from Iran and left for fear of being killed.
There was a bit of a language barrier when I spoke to thema bout it, so I did not get a clear description of what it was like. but they hated it. They told me about living in fear of the religious government.
Posted by: josh at July 16, 2003 01:24 PM
I agree 100% with your difinition of freedom, because in this country has a liberty of expression, even though has a limitations, but you can do whatever you want, wear whatever you like, with a little limitations by the society.
I think that freedom is like you write in your paragraph, and I feel sad that you came from a country without freedom.
Posted by: Elizabeth Miller at November 14, 2003 09:04 PM
Freedom is a right that is not appreciated like it should be. People that have been raised in countries where they can say, wear, express without fear and have not studied different cultures don't appreciate freedom. Thanks for sharing your definition of freedom.
Posted by: Gabriela at November 20, 2003 07:13 PM
I agree with Gabriela as far as freedom not being appreciated and it being a right. But a right is supposed to be something earned. So Who gives us this freedom? I'm pretty sure you have heard of something called 'Freedom of Speech'but I believe there is no such thing. Can we say WHATEVER we want in public? No. Someone once told me that Lady Liberty needs glasses. She is supposed to stand for our rights and freedom in our land. It seems to me that we dont get much of that but the newcomers do. So to me freedom is a right, but it is very limited.
Posted by: Shayeeda at December 2, 2004 09:55 AM