by Steven Koch

Created on: January 19, 2010

In order to answer this question, we need to ask ourselves what is freedom? Taken to an extreme freedom is doing whatever you want, whenever you want, regardless of who gets hurt. The freedom we enjoy in the United States is bounded by the laws of the land. Even though many of the laws enacted in recent decades have restricted many of the freedoms our ancestors enjoyed, this country still benefits from freedoms other nations cannot imagine. This freedom is not without a cost.

In a world where ideas and theories range from creation to evolution; from multiple gods to one god to atheism; from capitalism to communism there will always be those who want their beliefs to rule over all. When those individuals are able to amass people behind them, and they further believe they are justified in doing ‘whatever it takes’ to make their vision of the world a reality, people will die.

When confronted with a greater show of force, some are unwilling to stand in the way and will accede to the wishes of the powerful relinquishing their freedom. Others who have no firm convictions of their own will welcome the restrictions as a release from having to make decisions and possibly failing on their own. Still others are not willing to settle for a life directed and controlled by others – regardless of the intentions behind them. They want to live their lives as they see fit; to worship a Supreme Being of their own choosing or not; to speak and yes, criticize individuals, groups or the government without fear of reprisals. This last group will stand before the aggressors who want to restrict freedoms, giving their time, their individual freedoms and sometimes their very lives in order that other may live free.  

If no one was willing pay this price or to oppose those who seek to control our lives the result would be free from a monetary or a physical perspective, but it would not be freedom. It would be tyranny; injustice at the hands of the powerful and connected, and a life of drudgery whose only purpose would be to provide for the comfort of others.

Since we are fortunate enough to have those who are willing to stand up for our freedoms, we have the opportunity to make of ourselves what we wish. There is no guarantee of success. Equal outcomes are not ensured nor should they be. It is through the competition of ideas that progress is made. It is through this competition that we are forced to make ourselves better and to reach greater heights.

While we are reaching for those heights we always need to keep one eye on the horizon, watching for those who want to take what we have for themselves. The cost of freedom is constant vigilance at the least; the end of life at the most, but worth it at any price.

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