(Vanity) What is "freedom" to YOU?

Hoagy62

[hoagy62]

What does freedom mean to you as an American? I've seen people talking about defending freedom, people that hate freedom, and the rights of those who are free. My question is: For YOU, what does freedom mean? Is it the right to say or do what you want? Is it the right to own a gun, but not to tell the government? What kind of government does it mean?

[hoagy62]

I am not trying to start any fights or such. I just want Freepers to answer the question as they want: What is Freedom to YOU?

Thanks.

[Oztrich Boy]

Freedom's just a word for nothing left to lose

[Free2BeMe]

I think you forgot too add another...

[TADSLOS]

Nothing don’t mean nothing honey if it ain’t free, now now.

[DryFly]

It means realizing that once you've got your eternal salvation worked out, nothing here on earth in this short life matters all that much.

[mc6809e]

Freedom in a consistent political context can only mean freedom from other people.

[AAABEST]

True freedom is in loving, serving and knowing God. I never knew true freedom until discovering this.

On an individual basis and collectively, humans only become enslaved by the ancient enemy when they seek freedom from God's laws and merciful care. Those who bother to look will see overwhelming historic and current evidence of this.

[PizzaDriver]

After a strict constructionist interpretation of the "Bill of Rights", including giving Full Credit to the "Tribal" sources of our Constitution...

It is about the Right to Defend self, loved ones, neighbors, Property, & Strangers! AND, The Right to laugh, PUBLICLY at the "emperors new clothes"!

[slynx]

For me, as a woman in the greatest nation on earth it means (and not in totality):

To vote (or not)
To work 50 hours a week (or not)
To surf the web, seek the truth, draw my own conclusions or not)
To go to Church (or not)
To assemble (or not)
To protest (or not)
To go shopping at any store of my choice, on any day of my choice (or not)
To drive (or not)
To walk down the street by myself, with my head held high (or not)
To wear any skirt, dress or pair of daisy dukes that I want (or not)
To disagree with someone peacefully (or not)
To marry the man of my dreams...my choice (or not)
To send my children and Grandchildren to the school of my choice (or not)
To turn off Oprah (or not)

And I have our wonderful military to thank for all of it. The sacrifices of those unselfish, unwavering heroes, I stand in Awe. I thank my Grandparents who had the guts to come to America from Europe with NOTHING and make something....

I could go on and on....... But since this is my very first post, I will keep it short. Too many people fall into the (OR NOT) category if you ask me.

[teech]

Good topic; I look forward to seeing what the replies look like. Among other things -- a LOT of other things -- I personally think Freedom means, first and foremost, the right to be LEFT the heck ALONE. But maybe that's just me.

But -- and this has to be stressed too (cuz FREEpers would know this better than most) -- Freedom is NOT Free. NEVER forget that OUR Freedom -- mine and yours -- has been bought and paid for only by the sacrifices of those brave enough to pay the price, when must needs, to KEEP our Freedoms for us. Any discusssion of what freedom IS would be incomplete without a reminder of what it COSTS, and what we OWE to everyone who has ever served.

[TADSLOS]

[nosofar]

Freedom from unjustified coercion. The rule of law. The rule of law is not freedom in itself, but it's necessary. I'm currently reading Hayek's "The Constitution of Liberty". What struck me was that a pre-requisite to the establishment and maintenance of freedom is the rule of law. In short, every law should apply equally to everyone. This is nothing new and it's something I've always advocated. It's just a little clearer as to how it applies to freedom.

[agitator]

"What is Freedom to YOU?"

Pretty close to non-existant. What's left is being trashed in the name of security.

[c-b 1]

Freedom is never having to ask those you allow to run your government for permission to do anything.

[flashbunny]

I just know that freedom costs a buck o' five.

[jocon307]

"...the right to be LEFT the heck ALONE"

That's a pretty good definition.

[festus]

No bag limit on liberals........

[PGalt]

Freedom is man's greatest concept...a non-divisive concept, the only concept that buttresses the reality of life.

[Dashing Dasher]

[PizzaDriver]

You hit the nail, squarely!
Your list was all "Freedom TO".
Lib's and Big Gov' types pitch
"FREEDOM FROM"