Comments on: What is freedom?

By: SAJJAD

SAJJAD — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:22:47 +0000

hi all. Good opinion guys. i live in IRAN. i wana say that freedom means not only do everything you want but also have rights to change
your destiny or fate. this is real freedom. and it’s impossible
so we are only free to go everywhere we want or do every thing we want and sth like that which are all physical. (sorry for my poor english). by the way, we are allowed to do everything we want according to our religion. so don’t trust damn advertises form USA.

By: Joe Blow

Joe Blow — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:33:04 +0000

True freedom as a human being cannot possibly exist due to constraints of time/matter. This leaves us with the hope that when we die we will realise this true freedom. As a human being no-one knows what happens when we die so you cannot argue on what you think true freedom is like. How about we have this discussion when we are ‘dead’

By: Jose

Jose — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:30:09 +0000

so what if every body thought that way?

By: HANNAH

HANNAH — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:16:44 +0000

FOR ME FREEDOM IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN EXPRESS WHAT YOU WANT WITHOUT HAVING ANY DOUBTS TO DO THINGS AND WITHOUT LISTENING WITH WHAT OTHERS WANT!!

By: kiki

kiki — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:51:42 +0000

I think the most important thing freedom is about,
is being aware of your own freedom.
Freedom can only be experienced, mentally as well as physically,
when you take a moment to stop, breath, and realize
that you are in fact free.
Unfortunatly, its people with the least problems that do not, or can not see this.
If you’re not aware you cannot experience, and therefor not enjoy, your actual freedom.
You might enjoy the happening itself, whatever that might be.
But often not the fact that you are free to do it.

I ask you to be kind and aware.
Happy valentines day!

By: Kenneth Browne

Kenneth Browne — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:17:16 +0000

Freedom, is what each individual considers it through his or her own perspective. Through his or hers own interpretation of reality.

Life itself then must be a prison since we are all in an aspect, not free. When you think of it, we are all under control by Man, Nature, or Faith–each with its own laws, for without laws, chaos would be imminent. Therefore, from the moment we are born, we have no freedom because we are bound by laws until our time runs out.

Some would argue that we have the freedom of choice. However, “choice” itself has an irony–a law–a price. For every choice made, there is a consequnce. That in-its-self is a restraint, and freedom is without restraint.
Lets us all just be thankful that we were even given such a great power to choose, because nobody truely wants unboundful freedom. Laws and rules are the reasons life is enjoyable, without them, there would be no peace

By: becs

becs — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:47:08 +0000

you might be free to speak but not to act(vice-versa), free to leave but not to enter, free to die but not to live. nobodys free we all follow rules whether their because of our religion or because they have been set for us by the people who own our country.

By: Rodger

Rodger — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:20:51 +0000

The better I was able to express myself the better I would be understood. Since English is a struggle for me, it’s hard to say what I want. But I’m free though. I feel I could be more free if I was putting more work into learning English. It’s the same with everything else. The more freedom I sacrifice the freer I get.??? NO it doesn’t make sense. -Well if I learn let’s say an instrument then this could be applied, or not? I have to sit down and practice every day my piano, but by doing so I become free to play whatever I want. Ergo freedom is hard work!
It’s hard to define what freedom is. Compared to animals, humans are free. Animals can follow only their instincts, they have no choice whatsoever. If an animal is hungry it has to feed. Humans can choose not to eat for as long as they want to. They also can end their lives if they want. Didn’t came an animal across yet which was suicidal! At some stage I believed freedom is an illusion. This has changed to freedom is motion. Whatever I move -in mind or body. The ability/capability to move by choice is required as well. This is my current view of freedom, but not an exhausted one. Let’s not forget I’m quite confined by my past.

By: join

join — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:39:12 +0000

here we can just write and leave the comment. if any body dont like this forgive me for do it . but i am leaving here
the request. please please . we are in the oppression of pakistan government and we are being capturing from our house front of our family.some time they kill us in our house front of our cildren
please arise the voice of balochistan and balochi peaple i am also here my hope. you also can in.www.balochvoice.com and many other site you just write baloch in the google then it will show every thing .thanks thanks if any body like to chat. jack_join62@yahoo.com

By: jerry

jerry — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 10:29:01 +0000

freedom is just a word. no it need ack on it and it need blood. it need sacrifise all of your thing which you have without freedom.
i read the history of che . he was the brave and carefull man . i respeat him in my deep heart. he was not saying that came and make our country free. first he act on it then he say to come people make the country free . son ask me how i feeling in this slave .

thanks alot

By: Albert

Albert — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:53:54 +0000

Chuck: “In my humble opinion there are fundamentally two kinds of freedom – internal and external.

Internally we can think and believe what we want but if this differs from society too much then we are ostracized. Society imposes on individual freedom a bit to maintain a certain level of group order.”

Where does the societies imposition end and our freedom begin? Is it possible that what we believe to be freedom is simply what society as a whole regards as freedom? Are we free to redefine freedom? (I know I’m just being silly)

Externally we have the freedom to speak and travel and interact with our world. Societies that encourage freedom of both types benefit by becoming more diverse and interesting, while societies that inhibit individual freedom become (or remain) more one-dimensional and boring.

I think I agree with you on this. Generally this is where most people’s concerns about freedom lie. But as you mentioned before, these freedoms are hindered by the greater societal norms to maintain a certain level of group order. Therefore you don’t tell the police where to put their ticket unless you are willing to pay the price for those words. As well, you wouldn’t tell your Boss (or Wife) off. You have the freedom to do so, yes. But as stated in previous posts by others, you just wouldn’t exercise your freedom at the risk of losing other freedoms.

What I choose to focus on in my life is to what level do I grant the people around me their freedom to think differently than me and disagree with what “I” believe. There is no real freedom without compassion and the ability to tolerate each others differences. And it is the differences that make life interesting,…

If we regard ourselves as part of society, we are not exclusive to choose for ourselves the level of freedoms to permit for others as they have a belief and understanding / perception of what the “norm” is. Not quite sure if I agree with “no real freedom without compassion”. Compassion could be a whole other discussion since it is similar to freedom in that you cannot quite define a standard level of compassion that can be agreed upon. By some people’s definition, I’m sure the word tolerating/tolerance is not a part of the idea of freedom. Every moment that I feel like I’m tolerating something, I am quite sure I am not feeling a high level of freedom.

or, if you look at it from an evolutionary perspective, it is the differences that ALLOWED life to happen.

Interesting! Would really like to know more about how FREEDOM is related to the evolutionary process.

Overall, Chuck, I like where you are going in your definition / exploration of the idea of freedom (internal & external). As for me, it is still any moment where I am not feeling an ounce of worry, concern, obligation, guilt, or responsibility. Whatever I do after that is my free choice (which often defaults to TV or internet, unfortunately)

By: Albert

Albert — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:58:32 +0000

well said chuck.

will respond to you when I am more “free”.

By: jenny

jenny — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:43:00 +0000

suhp too all ov youu’s , and yeaa here’s a little story foaa youu’s , one day i suddenly freed myself ! wow , it was awsome as , and i enjoyed it , man i had fun doing all kinds of things like swimming , something i never thouqht i’d doo . I finally did it . thanx foaa listening ! ;L

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:05:16 +0000

Great site!

In my humble opinion there are fundamentally two kinds of freedom – internal and external.

Internally we can think and believe what we want but if this differs from society too much then we are ostracized. Society imposes on individual freedom a bit to maintain a certain level of group order.

Externally we have the freedom to speak and travel and interact with our world. Societies that encourage freedom of both types benefit by becoming more diverse and interesting, while societies that inhibit individual freedom become (or remain) more one-dimensional and boring.

In America we have a very high level of internal freedom but a somewhat significantly lower level of external freedom. I have to be very careful to think before I speak or I could offend somebody and lose my job. Being Atheist is especially frowned upon even though I follow the law and treat my fellows well.

What I choose to focus on in my life is to what level do I grant the people around me their freedom to think differently than me and disagree with what “I” believe. There is no real freedom without compassion and the ability to tolerate each others differences. And it is the differences that make life interesting, or, if you look at it from an evolutionary perspective, it is the differences that ALLOWED life to happen.

Think of it this way. Would this discussion even take place if we all had the same ideas? Of course not. Freedom is… an open discussion!

Cheers,

By: Jose

Jose — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:57:26 +0000

Fulfilling
said on November 10, 2009 at 2:53 pm

So a couple things I read have disturbed me. From reading a few of the comments randomly assorted around, I found a couple people who say they believe in God AND evolution. It is impossible to believe both. Either you believe in God(and are a Christian) or your an evolutionist. The reason it is impossible is because God created the world perfect(Garden of Eden). There was no killing, disease, or any kind of sin. Evolution believes in survival of the fittest. This means killing to come out on top, to survive, which in the beginning or the world it was not needed to fight or kill. So if you believe in God and evolution, you are saying that God is a monster because he allowed people and animals to fight among each other, and whoever wins is better and deserves to survive. But you say animals evolve look at the fossils!! Animals don’t evolve into a different species, only changge within their kind. This is called natural selection, and this began after Adam and eve sinned, and sin was brought into the world. An example of natural selection is this: there is a certain type of beetle on an island and the have wings and can fly. There is also the same type of beetle but with a deformity(mutation), it has no wings. during climate change the wind becomes very high. All the beetles that can fly getthrown into the water and drown. Thus the mutated beetles that can’t fly survive and breed and make more
beetles without wings. Not evolution! They are still the same kind of beetle. Also about evolution, there are no good mutations. Mutations that actually help that specimen is almost mathatically impossible. I am 17 years old and love Jesus. And Jesus loves everyone in this world. If u want to talk post a message here or I could give you my email.

btw your not in the wrong. though your expressing a form of freedom in what you say, you must bare this in mind, so are the people who speak on here. Though you may think its impossible to believe in god and evolution people have the freedom to do so. For a fuller freedom or rather to reach the true form of it, it would mean to discard most forms of subjegation.

In the end the idea of freedom is all well and good but true freedom infringes upon others freedom which then makes freedom not freedom

(I steal your car thus i am free to drive it but in doing that i violate your freedom to drive in which you must pay or get me arrested to enjoy your freedom to drive which causes my freedom to walk or move around to be restrained by the authorities)