Defining Freedom — Can freedom ever be defined with freedom?
With Independence Day nearing, I was asked to throw a few points at the idea of freedom and independence on a group discussion forum recently. And this article is basically the spawn of the trail of thoughts that this prompt ignited.
To begin with let me say, in all honesty that I don’t know if this adds any value per se, but I have been thinking about freedom for a while now and I am quite perplexed by the idea of it.
The first instinct I had was to obviously try to define it. Google defines it as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants” and it also goes on to add that it is “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved”. Though all of it may be true I somehow remain unsatisfied by this definition. Is freedom somehow tied to the idea of escaping from the consequences of your actions? Or is it about the things that you can do in society without worrying about the eventual consequences? Freedom in its absolute sense might be about the power to do and think as you please but it most definitely isn’t how it comes to play in the real world, after all if the world is left with that much power it would only result in chaos. So then, how can we even think of defining freedom today? I feel that once it comes into play, it invariably becomes based or has to have some core values to fall back on from whence it has to be defined from. A limit to its power.
Right now, amidst the pandemic, freedom might be the most coveted thing among people — the freedom to move around, the freedom to hug, the freedom to not wear a mask, the freedom to choose not to get vaccinated, there, there it starts to get muddy. I still know people who are apprehensive about getting the jab and it is not just countries like the USA that are burning with raging arguments on either side. While one side feels it’s within their freedom to choose not to wear a mask or to be vaccinated, the other continues to believe that the human race’s chance at freedom from the pandemic hinges on enforcing masks in public spaces. So, I was just trying to say, even when we define freedom, we have to restrict it such that it doesn’t take away anyone else’s. But then does that mean freedom can’t be defined without limiting it, can’t freedom be defined with freedom? Can’t it be defined without relying on any or some social, cultural, political or religious pools of ideas to justify its various facets or limits?
Another thought that I came across on my trail was about the right or freedom to choose in terms of abortions. A few regional (Sara’s — a good watch) and national level movies are now talking about it. Needless to say, it is a talked about topic in my circles these days. If you have strong ideas about the topic or if you don’t wish to engage in a possibly triggering conversation, I would request you to skip the next paragraph.
In such discussions, people often bring up points about how a lady has the right to her body and has the freedom to choose. While others point out that defining her choice or freedom in such a manner infringes on others’ rights or feelings, say the right to become a father. And this in turn raises the question whether fatherhood is at the mercy of a mother after all. (Don’t get me wrong, I personally believe that it’s her body and her choice, by the above statement I just wanted to show how based on your perspective and core values, the bounds and definitions of freedom can seem murky)
I think here is where the law of the land comes in and draws these boundaries for us. But again, depending on the regional and cultural values of the nation, the bounds of freedom are once again obscure. I believe freedom in such cases is most often greatly defined based on a set of common and agreed upon ideals and principles. Say, for most countries a set of written or unsaid values or even religious proclamations or texts may be the measuring stick for deciding how far you can reach before you cross the line. This presents with itself another major question, who decides where the walls go up? Is it the “norm” or is it based on the majoritarian view at that period, in that area? Won’t this result in an unjust and highly biased definition that might eventually rob out the freedom of the less fortunate?
Nonetheless, despite this peculiar nature of freedom we all yearn for it all the same — the freedom to choose how to identify yourself, the freedom to gender expression, sexuality, access to education, other opportunities and what not.
This leads me to question if freedom is after all something that I would sort of call an “aspirational absolute”. Like love, hope, faith and and others of its kind is it a desirable, imaginary, true absolute that can’t be humanly achieved? Is it a utopian dream that will keep getting further away from you as you keep trying to obtain it?
I have come to believe that complete or absolute freedom can’t be encapsulated by any means on earthly grounds, only in the realms of heavenly nymphs and dreamy worlds can these ideas attain their zenith. But I kid you not, if it not were for these imaginary tales that take the liberty of adding the mist of mystery to real world incidents, the aspirational value surrounding the undying love of Juliet or the unyielding patriotism of the freedom fighters or even the unwary faith of the martyrs will lose its charm. And devoid of the allure, won’t these aspirational absolutes lose their relevance and the won’t trails on their quest will be abandoned?
Isn’t it only in the pursuit of such aspirational absolutes that we move forward? Though the chase might seem never ending and infinite, each step we take towards it opens out our grounds further, it expands our reach. It is perhaps the carrot hanging from the stick ahead of us that makes us dream and want. It is a driving force. Freedom is perhaps one of the peculiar ones among them if I were to be honest. One needs to only try and recollect how many times we might have heard the question “are we really free yet?”.
The way I look at it, the fight for freedom is never ending, it is unbending and transcending in many ways. Take any period, any group or any location, the fight for freedom will most definitely exist in one manner or from. It has been a companion of human life since the dawn of our days and serves as the bait to ensure we don’t ever fall complacent on our journey to a better tomorrow. The blood, tears and sacrifices made at its altar is perhaps the threads of a chain that links generations of aspiring minds that pulls the reins of humanity forward.
And at the end of this seemingly messy rant, I am not sure if I made it very confusing but, after a brief thought I realized that’s exactly what I am trying to say! Freedom is not a very straightforward idea or concept that can be easily defined. It has many layers to it and might seem to be endlessly knotted unto itself with no end in sight. I am left doubting if I could add anything concrete but I sure hope that I got you thinking. And I am truly sorry if I have unintentionally hurt anyone’s feelings in any manner, I will be happy to correct myself if need be.
( LOL I just realized that last line might be yet another attempt at freedom, one where I am trying to be free from harsh criticism or blame) So I guess it wouldn’t be pretentious after all, if I say we all covet freedom and will continue to do so. Even when we might not actively be aware of our primal lust for it or be cognizant about our pertinacious pursuit for it.
