Good and Free

4/6/20 | some jerk

[fhayek]

I have a purpose to this. And I think this may be an appropriate time to pose the questions. What does it mean to be good? And what does it mean to be free?

I want to be both. I think that being good means supporting oneself. Raising one's own children. Being a good citizen when it comes to obeying laws and social mores. Military service, if called upon.

Being free means minimal control from whatever happens to be the government. That one is tough. We all seem to sacrifice freedom when some elite or another demands we do it. In the last twenty years, freedom has become an endangered animal.

I pose this here and now, because, it just so happens that this is the last day of my fifties. I look at the world, I look at America. I look at freedom...and goodness, and I want to be optimistic. Help me be optimistic.

P.S. Yeah I tend to do vanities when I get all maudlin and...uh drinking. Flame me if you want to. I have asbestos underwear....

[fhayek]

(shrugs?)

[HangnJudge]

None are good, no not one
No one can be free without surrender to Christ

At least that is what my heart says

[fhayek]

I really question how good the world could have been before Jesus Christ. I think not very...

[Paladin2]

Here's some encouragement...

[EvilCapitalist]

When I think of being good, I always think of George Washington. He’s a hero to me. Your vanity is a good summary of being good too. As for this crisis, it will pass eventually. And when it does America’s economy will rise like a phoenix from the ashes. As for being optimistic about freedom, and the future of this country, that takes FAITH. Faith is something you either have, or you don’t. I have faith in God, and President Trump. You just need to have faith.

[mad_as_he$$]

Those are,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrGw_cOgwa8

[HangnJudge]

Somewhere around the Fall of Adam

[Raycpa]

Galatians 5 New International Version (NIV)
Freedom in Christ

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

There is none good but God.

We can do good but we can not be good.

[coaster123]

Freedom is enjoyed by those who claim it and can defend their claim.

Good is refraining from starting a sentence with the word so.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Have a happy birthday tomorrow!

[Persevero]

I believe God defines what is good and what is evil. Not us.

That said at least some of your opinions align with His word.

[fhayek]

Thanks. Not fishing for that. It’s just this is not how I pictured my 60th birthday. Sequestered and introspective. Sheesh. And my one daughter decided to go off the deep end. But my post was philosophical. We must always strive to be free..and good. Isn’t that what this country is all about?

[BipolarBob]

if you’re drinking, (1) don’t overdo and (2) don’t drink the cheap stuff.

[PGalt]

Enjoy each day and all that is good in each day. I’ve got about 10 years on you. After a forced retirement due to brain surgery 2 Januarys ago, I appreciate each day more than ever. I do not mind speaking out against the evil (IMO) that I see who are anti-good. Stay healthy, retire when you can, enjoy each day. Throughout history not many have had the good fortune to live in such a fabulous republic. Praise the lord and have adequate ammo. There are bad people out there. Avoid them if you can. The Founding Fathers took self-governance to never-seen-before heights. When the government goes bad, that is a huge problem.

[Paladin2]

So true.

[Paladin2]

"We must always strive to be free"

I'm still totally free. I only limit the frequency of local excursions because I have underlying issues that point to working to avoid this new add to the potential microbe load that's always out there. Every place I usually go is still open. I basically hate the TSA restrictions associated with flying so rarely fly anymore. Driving? I have two new vehicles and can do it all day. My biggest problem is that all of the Ski Areas of interest are prematurely shut down this season.

[fhayek]

I occasionally wax nostalgic. About the America I grew up in. Gregory Peck, John Wayne. Flawed people who strove to do the right thing when the chips were down. People who understood and believed that America was the last, best hope for Mankind. People who reached for the stars and looked out for the weak among us. Maybe it never really existed. But in my mind it did.

[fhayek]

I occasionally wax nostalgic. About the America I grew up in. Gregory Peck, John Wayne. Flawed people who strove to do the right thing when the chips were down. People who understood and believed that America was the last, best hope for Mankind. People who reached for the stars and looked out for the weak among us. Maybe it never really existed. But in my mind it did.

[knarf]

All thought processes are polarized;

What is the anti-thesis to good ?

What is the anti-thesis to free ?

YOUR definition(s) are not necessarily anyone else's, so that would be the starting point for answers

I've heard it preached good vs bad ..... and I've heard it good vs evil ... which one is correct ?

See ?

I'll come back later to see what YOU have come up with.