What Is Freedom?

Every American believes in Freedom. America is a free nation. Freedom is our history and our heritage. Our forefathers fought for Freedom.

We are free to speak our minds.

Cursing Canoeist’s Conviction Upheld

February 18, 2000 in print edition A-15 A judge in Standish, Mich., upheld the conviction of a man who cursed in front of children after falling out of a canoe, ruling that Michigan’s 102-year-old anti-swearing law is constitutional. “Every noise or utterance does not constitute protected free speech that falls within the … 1st Amendment,” Arenac County Judge Ronald Bergeron said.

Full article: http://articles.latimes.com/2000/feb/18/news/mn-256

We enjoy freedom of religion.

The Pledge of Allegiance: Why we’re not one nation “under God.”By David GreenbergFriday, June 28, 2002

So torrential was the flood of condemnation that followed (the opinion of Judge Alfred Goodwin)—which held that it’s unconstitutional for public schools to require students to recite “under God” as part of the Pledge of Allegiance—that the beleaguered appellate-court judge suspended his own ruling…

…The founders opposed the institutionalization of religion. They kept the Constitution free of references to God…Given this tradition, it’s not surprising that the original Pledge of Allegiance—meant as an expression of patriotism, not religious faith—also made no mention of God…:

“I pledge allegiance to my flag and the republic for which it stands, one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Full article: http://www.slate.com/id/2067499/

We are free from oppression.

U.S. Appeals Court Hears Debate on Race-Based Admissions

By Jacques Steinberg

December 7, 2001

The constitutionality of race-conscious admissions policies at the University of Michigan was debated here today before a federal appeals court…But David F. Herr, a lawyer representing two white students who were rejected by the undergraduate admissions office, said that any policy that gave an advantage to black applicants was unfair to whites, and thus unconstitutional.
”The remedy for things not right is not more discrimination,” said Mr. Herr, who was retained by the Center for Individual Rights…
Full Article: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400E4D8133CF934A35751C1A9679C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

We have the freedom to bear arms.

Judge upholds Chicago’s handgun ban

Ruling on way to high court

December 18, 2008

BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter

A federal judge today upheld Chicago’s 1982 handgun ban as Mayor Daley disclosed plans to strengthen it by following Washington D.C.’s lead…Today, U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur rewarded the city for hanging tough, rejecting a pair of lawsuits challenging Chicago’s handgun freeze.

“City taxpayers are going to pay more money in legal fees for a fight they will ultimately lose…”

Full Article: http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1338487,chicago-handgun-gun-ban-upheld-121808.article

Americans enjoy freedom of choice…

Nation’s Strictest Abortion Law Enacted in Louisiana Over Veto

By ROBERTO SURO

June 19, 1991

A law that prohibits virtually all abortions in Louisiana was adopted last night as both houses of the Legislature overrode a veto by Gov. Buddy Roemer…They hope it will give the United States Supreme Court an opportunity to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 High Court decision that guaranteed a woman’s constitutional right to choose an abortion.

Full Article: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE0DB1F3FF93AA25755C0A967958260&sec=health&spon=&pagewanted=print

Freedom of the press…

New York Times reporter jailed. Time magazine reporter agrees to testify about sourcing

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A federal judge ordered New York Times reporter Judith Miller jailed for contempt of court Wednesday for refusing to testify to a grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA operative’s name. She was taken into custody immediately…

Time magazine reporter Matthew Cooper, who also faced jail time, was spared confinement after agreeing to testify.

Full Article: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/07/06/reporters.contempt

And freedom to live where and how we choose.

Eminent Domain: Being Abused?

July 4, 2004

(CBS) …Cities across the country have been using eminent domain to force people off their land, so private developers can build more expensive homes and offices that will pay more in property taxes than the buildings they’re replacing…

“This is a nationwide epidemic,” says Berliner. “We have documented more than 10,000 instances of government taking property from one person to give it to another in just the last five years.”

Full Article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/09/26/60minutes/printable575343.shtml

Freedom, it seems, is ubiquitous in America.

Yet Libertarians, a group devoted to defending truthful, constitutional freedom, remain a fringe political group despite fervent support to reclaim or maintain Americans’ right to be free. Perhaps the question should be asked, “What is ‘Freedom‘”?

One obstacle preventing the Libertarian movement from growing is lack of a clear message that defines what Freedom is (and is not). People can not support what they do not fundamentally understand or already believe they are supporting. Libertarians rally around the ideal of Freedom, but what American, regardless of political affiliation, does not believe he supports Freedom?

It is given that freedom is different for each individual, but as a rallying cry for every individual to stand behind, saying “Freedom is whatever it means to you” is a cop-out. There is something essential to being free that most everyone understands. Libertarians (and other freedom-loving individuals—I am not a Libertarian) have no clear and common understanding of the nature of being free. Or, if they do, they have done a deplorable job marketing and building broad support to overturn the Republican/ Democrat duopoly currently in control of America.

The reigning duopoly no doubt enjoys benefits from the many struggling “third-parties” with muddled misunderstood narratives. Indeed, creating a clear definition of Freedom appears to be on par with defining pornography. “I know it when I see it,” was the best Justice Potter Stewart could spuriously exclaim when challenged to decide whether something was or was not porn, in 1964.

I assert Freedom is not like Pornography and it is not impossible to define. If Libertarians are to gain further success in amassing support, they must have a common understanding of what they are fighting for and be able to illustrate why it is worth the fight to those that would join their struggle.

Let me ask a question (and perhaps illustrate my point) before I post the next part of this essay, however.

Give some consideration to this, and then let me know how you would answer, if a friend sincerely asked:

WHAT IS FREEDOM?

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This entry was posted by Michael Salamey on Sunday, February 15th, 2009 at 1:13 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.