Are we truly free?
When we hear someone talk about freedom what are they referring to? Is is freedom of speech, freedom of expression, economic freedom or freedom of the mind? It is not a simple case of saying this person is free and that person isn't.
We are bound by the laws of our society. If I can't afford to buy something then I can't have it. I am not free to take something that doesn't belong to me just because I want it. The majority of our laws protect us from other peoples actions. This is why it is illegal to drink and drive. Although a small minority see it as impinging on their freedom to drink it protects us as they may cause a road accident.
As long as we don't directly interfere with someone else or someone else's property then can we can say that you are free to do anything? Unfortunately this is not the case. There are a whole raft of laws that can be broken such as public nudity, racially charged statements, anti-semitism and sexist behavior to name a few. But to be fair if we want to live in a civilized society then we need to take into consideration other people's feelings. As long as that happens anything we do in the privacy of our own homes is okay isn't it?
What we do in our own homes can also be illegal. Two extreme examples would be flag burning (in some Western countries) and suicide. Now I not suggesting that you rush out and try either of these two options however it does highlight some of the limits that are placed on our personal freedom.
To some people freedom does not mean the ability to do as we please but rather freedom from the obligations of society. This idea became popular during the 1960s and 1970s when communes started to spring up. By leaving behind your life you could go and work on a farm, growing your own food, building your own house, being your own boss. For some people this was true freedom.
In todays climate we complain about our lack of freedom. Security delays at airports, restrictions on what we can take on board and limitations on when when we get our drinks are just a few of the problems arising when we choose to fly for example.
From what we have seen so far if appears that we have very little freedom even in so called free societies. However if you think about it we are totally free. We are free to do anything we want, it's just a case of cause and effect. If we do something that may offend someone or breaks the law then there is likely to be a consequence to that action. However if you are prepared for the consequence then you are free to do the action. This is ultimately what it comes down to as if you have true freedom then there will be no justice.
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