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Freedom: 1. The condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints or 2. Immunity from an obligation or duty (Wordweb).

In his classic song "Me and Bobby Magee" Chris Kristofferson included the lines:

"Freedom's just another word for nothin left to lose,

And nothin aint worth nothin but its free".

In this view, freedom has no value. Who cares about freedom? Why is it so important?

Freedom means different things to many people. In the world of the twentieth century the most common meanings relate to political and economic freedom.

Political freedom is a feature of political life in the democratic nations of the world, but wherever political freedom is applied, limits are imposed. Many twentieth century movements around the world focused on the attainment of freedom - specifically political freedom - as their main objective. A prime example of this was the South African struggle where the majority of the population only gained political rights in 1994. Another example was the civil rights movement in the United States that has effectively transformed the nation and has made the possibility of a black president a reality.

These hard fought for freedoms are highly valued by many. While there are political extremists that advocate dictatorships or racist rule, most people are loathe to relinquish their rights. Fears that anti terrorism legislation is reducing the freedom of the people has become an issue in the West.

The advent of political freedom in South Africa has brought many benefits. These include the inclusion of South Africa as part of the global world. Political parties are allowed. Debate now occurs in the open. Detention without trial is a thing of the past.

But political freedom on its own is not enough. Freedom needs to be accompanied by responsibilities. Freedom has not been enough to transform the lives of the poor in many countries. But freedom is something that is valued by many.

Economic freedom is associated with capitalism. The freedom to select products from any number of competitors, the freedom to invest in any business of your choosing, the freedom to produce wealth and the freedom to hire and fire.

Religious freedom is another hot topic. Most of the Western democracies guarantee the right to religious freedom. Historically this was often not the case and members of different religious groupings have at times been persecuted for their religious beliefs. In England, successive rulers persecuted Protestants then Catholics, then Protestants and of course the Jews.

The modern world is one where diversity plays an important part in the global economy. Freedom is an essential ingredient in fostering this diversity. Freedom is not a luxury, but the life-blood of any democracy.

Learn more about this author, Barry Marcus.
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