YodZiaN

Sacrifices have been made. People have been killed, wars have been fought, civil disobedience campaigns have been waged and in some countries governments have been overthrown. The lengths to which mankind has at various times gone to achieve freedom is extraordinary.

Despite all this effort, how much freedom have we really actually achieved?

We (of the ?first world?) have certainly achieved a pretty good state of physical freedom. Unless you are incarcerated, or otherwise detained, we can go out, go home, visit your friends, travel interstate, and in most cases internationally without being physically restrained from doing so..

Chalk one up for freedom

What about political and religious freedom? While our political system is not ideal and probably never will be, we certainly seem to have made a lot of progress in this arena. We can be a member of any ?party? or subscribe to any ideology we wish without any lawful restriction, interference or discrimination. We have a high level of personal rights protected both legally and constitutionally.

OK, so freedom takes the political/religious flag too?

So our system of government supports our RIGHT to believe what we want and go where we want? But is freedom simply a matter of rights or does it also require the ability to actually exercise that right?

For Example, maybe you would love to be on a yacht in the Mediterranean. I know I would!

You certainly have the right to do so, so why are you not there? If you are like most of our population, Money, or rather a lack thereof prevents you from going, plus the fact that if you took off to the Med for a month, you would lose your job, and therefore probably lose your house car etc.

The question to ask then is if we have the right to go to the Mediterranean, but not the means? do we actually really have FREEDOM to go there?

If we have the right to go, and the money to get there, but are told by our employer that we can?t have the time off? are we really free?

My answer is no.

The freedoms that have been won for us by the sacrifices of our predecessors are considerable, and I do not in any way trivialise them. On the contrary, if we are to live up to legacy earned for us by their sacrifice, we must push the limits further, and continue their fight into realm of financial freedom.

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