Posted by
ICONIC FREEDOM on Sunday, July 19, 2009 10:44:51 AM
When we speak as Americans are we speaking about what is freedom or what is "right"?
Recently at the Gilbert, Arizona Tea Party I heard a woman standing next to me commenting, to no one in particular, as the speaker pontificated about being “right” for being present at the party, “I like being right!”
Indeed, I’m sure you do.
What happens when we pursue what is “right”? We pursue a personal agenda.
When we seek what is "right" for others, we seek to control others and their choices by stating that they are “wrong”, rather than pursuit of what is free choice to decide for self. If that free choice is at no cost to another American unless he consents or contracts to such, it has no right or wrong implications except to the individuals involved.
When we limit choice, we seek to control – irrespective of any “do good” intentions of such behavior. The road to hell is paved replete with good intentions and unintended consequences.
We do not know for another human being how his life ought to be lived; only he can know that.
You insult others when you implicitly state, “you can’t be trusted to make these decisions for yourself, and therefore, I will decide what is right for you".
We each hold values and morals which are meaningful to us; some shared by others, some not shared by others. Freedom upholds the opportunity for each American, for each human being, to pursue personal values toward happiness of self. Again, so long as it is not at a cost to others without their consent – it’s what free market systems are all about – consent and contract.
Where does this pursuit of happiness go astray?
When Americans attempt to make their “right” as a “right way to live” for everyone and demand subjugation or conversion to such “right” choices.
Be assured, some of your choices are just as distasteful to others as theirs' are to you.
If you seek to impose your “right way to live” legislatively or otherwise – that’s force; it’s not free choice any longer, it is manipulation for personal agenda and personal gain off the backs of others.
Do we uphold freedom when we persuade or when we force?
It’s not about being right, it’s about being free.
How much freedom are you willing to live in your own life? How much freedom are you willing to extend to others? Is the level of freedom you desire in your life directly proportional to the freedom you are extending to others?
We elevate ourselves toward being judgmental of others when we seek to impose what is “right” rather than what is freedom and free choice.
Some people like being controlled; it feeds their victimization of self. What kind of person are you who would engage, support and encourage such behavior. What does it say about you.
If elections are about winning in order to influence and increase levels of freedom, it’s easy to gather a mob of those who agree, it’s more telling if you’re able to persuade others to see the side of freedom.
The more freedom you live in your life, the more you are willing to extend to others. When you limit freedom in yourself, you will limit the freedoms of others.
Just because people agree or share your opinions does not credential those opinions toward law by which we control other people’s choices which have no cost to our own.
It’s not about being right, it’s about being free.