by Elizabeth M Young

Created on: October 05, 2009

There is rarely complete freedom, except in the mind that is so deteriorated that it cannot comprehend what is going on in the real world. Freedom always comes with restrictions. Freedom always comes at a cost. We have the freedom to dress any way that we want to, for example, but we also know that outrageous or strange dress has consequences at work, in public, and in our private lives.

Freedom, in the broadest sense, allows us to worship if we please, what we please, and where we please in America. In the broadest sense, freedom allows us to travel without having to present proof of who we are in order to cross a state border. We are free to express ourselves, in private, in ways that we may not be free to express ourselves in public.

But our public freedoms are the broadest in the world. We are allowed to disrespect anyone we choose to, no matter what their title or status, in public or in private. We are free to have despicable personalities, be racists, sexists, and to support the philosophies of the past and present enemies of our nation. We are free to teach, advocate, and encourage the policies of past and present enemies of our nation.

Freedom, in the broadest sense, is free. Even the worst of criminals, who are locked up for life,are obviously encouraged by incapable prison management to exercise the freedom to be racists, rapists, and to form criminal gangs and enterprises. They also have the freedom to teach, learn, advocate, and encourage the policies of past and present enemies of our nation.

In the truest sense, American citizens are free to exercise a vast array of behaviors, espouse a vast array of religious beliefs, dress in an incredible variety of ways, and to speak more freely than in any other place in the world.

And yes, there are costs for all of this vast freedom. The first cost is to support our soldiers and our veterans, who put their lives on the line in order to keep our enemies from taking over and imposing their forms of government, which are guaranteed to limit our freedoms in intolerable ways.

The second cost is to be educated and aware of what we are voting for, to contact our government, to tell the truth, and to be heard if we feel that that our government is jeopardizing our freedoms.

The third cost is to give up some "rights" in order to ensure that we are safe in the air, on the road, in our communities, and in our homes. We give up the right to grow and consume unsafe food and to use hazardous commercial products. We give up some "rights" in order to insure that our environment, public and national parks, natural resources, and coastlines are protected. We give up a lot of rights in order to keep the disturbed or criminals from causing harm to themselves or to others. We give up the right to lie under oath, to steal, murder,do violence, drive unsafely, and to do a whole lot of destructive things. And we give up the right to participate in the illegal overthrow of our government.

Freedom never has been, and never will be free. Our citizenship in the most free society in the world comes with costs. If we do not pay up, pay on time, and pay in full, we will not have our freedom oriented society at all.

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