(#28) Dialogue About Freedom

DIALOGUE ABOUT FREEDOM Reming: What is freedom? Pining: Freedom is a dandelion seed flying through the air, going to places where it wants to go and stopping where it wants to grow. Reming: Is not a dandelion guided by the wind? Isn’t it pushed to anywhere the wind blows and settles down when the wind has calmed down? Therefore, it is not free for it is bounded with the ways of the wind. Am I right? Pining: Yes, you are right. Reming: Besides, a dandelion doesn’t have a mind or a brain to decide for itself. It is an object unlike us. So tell me, what is freedom? Do not give an example as you have done. Tell me your understanding as to what freedom is. Pining: Freedom is expressing oneself and improving what he is in the process. Reming: I see. When you voice out your opinions and do things you like that will help you build yourself, that is considered as freedom. Are there limitations here? Is it still called freedom if you do not improve yourself? For instance, when you speak of your ideals, you say what you think about certain concepts like in politics and you tend to create a hostile situation where in you end up in jail. Does freedom still scope that? You were able to expressed your feelings but you pushed yourself into something that would harm you. Pining: Let’s just say that anyone has the right of freedom but he must be responsible enough to consider the consequences of his actions. Reming: So instead of doing what he really wants he might come up doing something that is against his will. For example, if one wanted to have vengeance on someone who killed his loved one then he must stop himself and keep quiet. Where is the freedom there? Pining: He is free to think of what will happen in his future and in that case, keeping quiet was the right thing to do. Reming: In his keeping quiet, what will happen to him? Will he not be unsatisfied and the memory of his lost loved one will still linger

in his mind, haunting him? Will his desire to seek justice not eat him up little by little and then will he be again in the situation where he seeks for revenge? Pining: He would surely remove that from his mind and let the law take its job. Reming: The law? The law which inputs false freedom in our minds? Pining: False freedom? What do you mean by that? Reming:The law was made to keep the people in peace and order and also to keep them disciplined. They made these laws to limit what the people can do. The law stops them from doing things like exercising their right of speech. Although the government says that they made the laws to benefit not only the rich and powerful but also the masses, they have used these laws to abuse the powerless. They say that under the law, we are free to express ourselves but they turn it around and say that what we have done is against the law and we must be punished because of it. So the freedom that the people have is not considered as freedom for, as you can see, the law that keeps them free is keeping them from being free. Do you get what I mean? Pining: Yes, I do. You have a point actually. Reming: So now back to freedom, why is “free” the rootword of freedom? Does it mean that freedom is doing anything without limitations? Pining: Sometimes the word itself doesn’t define its real meaning. Reming: But you said earlier that freedom is expressing yourself and that also means doing anything that you want. You didn’t state that it has limitations but one must consider the consequences of his actions. Are you trying to change your definition of freedom? Pining: Yes, let me. Reming: Then what is your new definition of freedom now? Pining: Freedom is doing anything which is acceptable to God. Besides, He was the one who gave us our ability of free will, so we should base our actions to what is acceptable to Him. The Ten

Commandments make it easier for us to know what we should and should not do. Reming: But the Ten Commandments do not apply to all people. It is universal but some are not compelled to follow it. Examples of such people are the Muslims. They are able to kill other people without a single nag to their conscience. That is against the commandment, “Thou shall not kill.”, but they still do it for it is acceptable for them to do so. Another is the people in Alaska. The men offer their wives to the visitors or guests as a sign of hospitality. That is considered against the divine commandment, “Thou shall not covet my neighbour’s wife.” Pining: Maybe the people should base their actions on what is acceptable to their respective religions. Reming: But how about the atheists? They do not believe in Gods as well to the teachings of any religions. I think we should take aside religion since it is an article of faith and the existence of God is still doubted by some. Pining: Okay. Reming: Well then, do you have another definition for freedom? Pining: To tell you the truth I have run out of ideas. Maybe next time I can tell you. Let me think and then I’ll get back to you. For now I must leave for I have something to do.

Let’s help Pining! Share your own definition of freedom! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------cutecat_nin28@rocketmail.com