A Treaties on Freedom

 

I recently expressed an opinion on the condition of the current Presidential election, which excited criticisms from friends in what was less than positive and in some cases almost volatile in nature. I strive to respect different and opposing opinions that are based on educated conviction, and respect the individual’s interest in holding and keeping those beliefs. I find it intriguing how a simple expression can cause such sensation without an attack against character even if it indirectly targets cause. While I am happy to discuss, or even debate my ideals, I am not required to defend them in honor of our social belief in the right of expression.

A definition of Freedom

Freedom, in application towards individuals, is the ability to make conscience choices responding to beliefs, convictions and circumstances and then exercising action, whether physical or mental, which has an influence on the outcome of a moment. Freedom requires acceptance of the consequences, whether positive or negative, of an individual’s choices. One could say that the ultimate price of freedom lies in an individual’s willingness and ability to be responsible and accountable to their choices.

Those who will not choose will never enjoy the benefits of freedom, often thinking they can escape the consequences. This is of course an error because by refusing to make a choice they are indeed taking a course of actions that will have ramifications in one form or another. By accepting freedom one does not have to become infallible, just accountable, understanding that no one acts with perfect knowledge but that a life of freedom is much more worthy than the acquiescence of slavery.

What is Freedom?

Freedom, and by association rights, are often discussed in circles all around the world. How does one express freedom? What constitutes freedom? How can many places not respect freedom? Let me express an irrefutable fact! Every person is free; every circumstance presents us with a choice and a subsequent set of consequences. Set aside a moment the perceptions of society; right and wrong, morality, and ethics. To discover why everyone is free we must first shake off all the constraints society has placed upon us and with an open and active mind considered what this means.

As I explained Freedom is essentially the ability to think and then act, and it is exactly that simple. It is possible to lose liberty and still remain free. When presented with challenging circumstances we can choose to sacrifice our liberty while retaining freedom, even if those choices lead to physical harm or personal extinction. A person can be imprisoned, caged and tortured and still act in rebellion against the forces that attempt to constrain them until liberty is attained, or the fight is ended. When the united States of America was ratified into existence it was with the clear understanding that all of mankind is free, but to live in a society we must agree that we will constrain ourselves when our actions would give benefit at the forcible expense of another.

So we can see that everyone, from those living under the most despotic governments to those living under the most liberal, can act in a manner contrary to their circumstances. In the case of the repressed individuals, and by assembly a group, can choose to take actions knowing full well that on one side there are severe and negative consequences but on the other are equally liberating and positive benefits. Inversely individuals enjoying freedom can choose actions that remove their liberty and have the appearance of depriving them of freedom.

Freedom and Rights?

Freedom we can see is inherent in any intelligent creature and while it is possible to deny liberty, it is impossible to negate freedom. An individual always has the ability to make a choice, at risk of life and liberty, of defying another’s actions. So what are rights then? Rights are the social contract that every society engages in to enjoy mutual tranquility. It is possible for an individual to cheat, steal and murder to gain benefit, but we recognize as a society that these expressions of freedom are contrary to the mutual benefit of all its members.

In a just and true society we understand that rights don’t restrain our freedom but rather allow us to civilly express them. We agree that any action that attempts to benefit one over another by means of force and coercion are reprehensible and contrary to the individual and common good. In this light it is easier to understand the commonality between rights and freedom and to acknowledge that while they are interdependent, they are not reliant on each other. Rights do not restrain freedom and freedom is not defined by rights.

Conclusion

While I acknowledge at points in history others have done much to secure liberty, Freedom is purchased moment by moment by individuals. Freedom requires that we recognize ourselves as sovereign, for freedom is not granted on one person by another, or inversely revoked, but exists independently. As sovereigns we may exercise our rights at any point in time; even if they are not exercised on a socially popular occasion. A sovereign reserves their choice to assert those rights as an expression of their freedom and a just society will honor the expression in as much as it may be obliged to do so.

An Unusual Encounter

In pursuit of my continuing efforts to meet new people and make new friends in Salt Lake I once again turned to meetup.com to see if I could find any new and interesting groups to join. I found several but one in particular caught my eye, the Beer Meetup Group. Now being a fan of drinking, and liking beer as a beverage I thought great I want in! Fortunately they were having their very first meetup that same evening at the Squatter Pub Breweries in downtown Salt Lake City. I sent a text message to Ahmed asking if he’d like to go and arranged to meet him at his house right after work before going to the meetup location. It was after I picked Ahmed up that the evening became really unusual. I was almost out of cigarettes and so I stopped at a gas station really close to his house. As I was getting out of my car a girl walked up and said something about a ride and I absently said no rides and continued to walk into the gas station. I did notice that she’d opened the back car door on the passenger side of the car.

As I was waiting to pay for my cigarettes I kept trying to look outside the door but I’d parked too far back to see what was going on. I paid for everything and went outside to see what was happening and saw her in the back seat of my car talking to Ahmed and thought to myself… damnit I really don’t want to deal with this right now. I think she was high or might just be a tweaker because she wasn’t in a very coherent state. She explained that she’d just left the hospital and that she didn’t want to go back to the homeless shelter because she had been raped the night before, unusual that since she hopped into the car of a complete stranger without hesitation, and that she needed a ride to Roy where her grandma lived.

I explained that I wasn’t going up to Roy as I lived in Salt Lake and didn’t really want to drive that far and miss meeting new friends. A little callous but under the circumstances things were very strange and I didn’t want to be any more involved than I had to be at that point. I explained that I was on my way to Squatters and she asked if I’d take her that far. I figured at that point it wouldn’t cause me any trouble to take her there even if it didn’t really get her any closer to Roy. She started to explain how hard things had been on her and talked about how she was walking around barefoot and had scabs all over her feet. She wasn’t able to keep a straight line of conversation going but asked if we’d be able to call her grandma for her to see if she could arrange for someone to pick her up. Ahmed called the number she supplied and gave the phone over to her, she said her name was Crystal, and after a couple minutes of conversation his phone died.

I then dialed the number again on my phone and let Crystal talk to her for a few minutes before she started to make a confusing mess out of the situation and demanded my phone back so I could tell her grandma were I was going and how to get there so she could pick up her granddaughter. I agreed to keep an eye on Crystal until she could get down to Salt Lake from Roy but by then we were at Squatters and I was interested in meeting new people and making friends. I did go out a couple of times to make sure everything was ok and at one point Crystal asked me if I’d get her a drink to go. I made some non-committal agreement and decided at that point that I wasn’t going to go back outside until I was certain she wasn’t there anymore.

When Ahmed and I left she’d gone and it was no longer my problem. I don’t know if her grandma found Squatters or if she just wandered off on her own. The few times I went out she kept pacing up and down the length of the side walk and would occasionally wander into the road a few steps. I have to chalk this up to be one of the most unusual encounters I’ve ever had in my life and I’ve had a few that are up there.