by Mason Freeman

Created on: August 30, 2010

The idea and concept of freedom is a wonderful thing, however freedom and anarchy are two very different things. With out law and government we the people can not co-inhabit the earth and live peacefully. Therefore laws and government had to and still to this day have to be established. In a democracy the government and the laws that we abide under are suppose to be written by the people and for the people who fall under its jurisdiction. These laws should cover everyone and should not have protect any single group of people within its jurisdiction.

 Let’s take a look at what freedom is. Freedom to think, freedom to express yourself, freedom to speak, freedom to work and play, freedom to practice religion, free enterprise, and freedom to bear arms. This is just a short list for example but when you combine any one of these or all of these concepts with respect for yourself, the country you inhabit, nature and other people, the concept of freedom takes on a whole new form. When any single one of these concepts are taken out of context and without regard or respect for anything except you, that is when the law needs to step in and take action.

 Freedom is not an anarchy way of life; it is not, nor has it ever been a right for people to break laws and do what ever they feel is their right without the respect for neighbor, family, friend, foe, or country. Without respect for yourself, the country you inhabit, nature and other people, you simply cannot be free. To put it simply, with out respect you cannot have freedom. What you do have is anarchy.

 So why is freedom overrated? Freedom is overrated because, our society as a whole has lost respect for everything including one another. Instead of following the law as it was written, it was and still to this day is grossly twisted until it is a manifestation of what it originally meant, and then it is translated into what groups of people want it to mean. With that reinterpretation then, new laws have to be written and then the whole process starts over until there are so many skewed laws society and government loses its ability function as a whole. It is a pie in the sky sort of idea, but just for sake of argument, think for a moment about how many laws would simply have no meaning or no use if everyone had respect for themselves, everything, and everyone they came into contact with.

 Here is a thought, how can one have freedom of speech and expression, all while respecting fellow man, yet still be heard? Write it and publish it with a clear title. Anyone who wants to read it can and if not then don't. If you read the article and disagree with it or whatever, first you have to understand that you had the right and the freedom to not read the article and you must also understand that other people may or may not have the same opinion of it as well. Then you have the option to take what you have read as an education or disregard it and leave it as that, or you could write and publish an article with your thoughts, remembering to title it accordingly.

Learn more about this author, Mason Freeman.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.