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Freedom
Freedom is a slippery word and most people screaming about it do not have a clue as to what it means to them.
I'm not talking about a dictionary definition of freedom, I'm talking about the definition of freedom to an individual. Oh they get that they are supposed to be able to do anything they want and you can't stop them from do anything they want and they throw in something about rights and other nebulous terms they've never really considered but pin someone down for a definition of freedom and you'll get a mish-mash of contradictory statements that ultimately say:
"I should be able to do anything I want and you are wrong if you try to stop me."
And then they'd tangent into some diatribe about how they may not agree with you but will fight to the death to protect your freedom or some other crap like that.
Because if they cannot define freedom, how will they fight for it?
Freedom for me is simple:
I should be able to live my life, within the rules dictated by society, without undue influence.
So I am not free to rob or pillage or cause mayhem because those are against the rules dictated by society. This statement also makes no moral judgment against others because I never say "I should be free to impose my will on you."
But what if I do not like the rules of society? Well, that's simple, I can work to change them and behave in a manner I deem most effective and accept the consequences of my opposition to the rules.
And in the pursuit of my freedom I am always aware that should my freedom unduly impede anothers, then my freedom must be curtailed because if anothers exercise of their freedom impedes mine, I will oppose it and I can hardly demand others be treated less fairly.
Let's use Freedom of Religion in the US as an example.
I am free to state my religious preferences and practice my religious preferences up to the point that these practices require you to modify your own preferences in an undue fashion.
And what is this "undue fashion" thing?
My religious practices require me to dress in spaghetti and clown shoes. Fine.
My religious practices require you not to laugh at me. Not fine.
The sad fact is that most people approach freedom thusly:
"If you do not support my freedom you are a bad person. I will require you to forgo your freedom to support my freedom and you should thank me for it because my freedom is more important than your freedom."
And this is both silly and moronic.
I'm not talking about a dictionary definition of freedom, I'm talking about the definition of freedom to an individual. Oh they get that they are supposed to be able to do anything they want and you can't stop them from do anything they want and they throw in something about rights and other nebulous terms they've never really considered but pin someone down for a definition of freedom and you'll get a mish-mash of contradictory statements that ultimately say:
"I should be able to do anything I want and you are wrong if you try to stop me."
And then they'd tangent into some diatribe about how they may not agree with you but will fight to the death to protect your freedom or some other crap like that.
Because if they cannot define freedom, how will they fight for it?
Freedom for me is simple:
I should be able to live my life, within the rules dictated by society, without undue influence.
So I am not free to rob or pillage or cause mayhem because those are against the rules dictated by society. This statement also makes no moral judgment against others because I never say "I should be free to impose my will on you."
But what if I do not like the rules of society? Well, that's simple, I can work to change them and behave in a manner I deem most effective and accept the consequences of my opposition to the rules.
And in the pursuit of my freedom I am always aware that should my freedom unduly impede anothers, then my freedom must be curtailed because if anothers exercise of their freedom impedes mine, I will oppose it and I can hardly demand others be treated less fairly.
Let's use Freedom of Religion in the US as an example.
I am free to state my religious preferences and practice my religious preferences up to the point that these practices require you to modify your own preferences in an undue fashion.
And what is this "undue fashion" thing?
My religious practices require me to dress in spaghetti and clown shoes. Fine.
My religious practices require you not to laugh at me. Not fine.
The sad fact is that most people approach freedom thusly:
"If you do not support my freedom you are a bad person. I will require you to forgo your freedom to support my freedom and you should thank me for it because my freedom is more important than your freedom."
And this is both silly and moronic.