- Home
- Business & Marketing (833)
- Editorials (671)
- Entertainment (2033)
- Fashion (1032)
- Highbrid (189)
- Honeys (2876)
- Humor (948)
- Music (5222)
- Need to Know (2224)
- News (2076)
- Podcasts (4)
- ARCHIVE
Wednesday, June 29, 2011 | 6:24am
SOUND OFF: On This Independence Day…Do YOU Feel ‘Free’?
Has the 4th of July rocked us to sleep about our inalienable freedom?
#July4th #IndependenceDay
I was going to wait until July 4th to post this but I figured most of you will be knee deep in some barbecue if not some extracurricular activities (insert imagination here.) So before we get to the fun I figured I’d pull at your brain straps a little before the weekend gets kicked off. Perhaps appropriately, American Independence Day has over the years been more branded by the day of the month than the reason for the holiday. I DO realize that we have neighbors in the Nation that reside out of the US but I think regardless this topic still applies.
If you listen to the revolutionaries, the civil rights apologists, hell even the Isrealites on Flatbush Avenue they’ll all tell you “we are not free.” Before choosing to agree or disagree one must decide for themselves what exactly defines their own freedom. Its probably different for each of us. Whether is spiritual oppression, racial tyranny, political inequality we all have a gripe with some institution that we feel has its foot on our neck no?
Its not just about white and black. Our resident political expert Malcolm, yes a white guy and a Republican has made us hip to the many political schemes that have for generations kept the imbalance not along color lines but rather educational lines.
So as Americans, each year we celebrate this “independence.” What does it really mean? Are we free? Free of what? To do what? Have we resigned ourselves to the fact that we aren’t Free and just take the paid holiday as an excuse to get drunk and party? After all, how many of us who disagree with the idea of independence would report to work on Monday in protest? On the flip side, does it even matter if we’re “Free”? Do you care to what degree you’re subjected to the strings that bind you? If you think I’m being vaugue, I am…intentionally. Over the years we’ve had many discussions of varying degrees on this issue of “freedom” so I want to leave the floor wide open for the discussion to organically take whatever course it may. SOUND OFF: On this July 4th Independence Day… Do YOU Feel ‘Free’?
FILED IN Editorials, Need to Know
Most of us are free. We’re free to make whatever choices in life we want. I don’t have the state telling me what God I have to pray to, what music to listen, what I have to eat, what is ok for me to look at online etc… Freedom is in all the things most of us take for granted.
Many Americans mistake “freedom of choice” for “freedom to do exactly whatever the f*ck I want, regardless of law or social norms/morals.” This is, in my opinion, one of the biggest problems with “American Democracy.” … there are many examples/situations; a simple one that comes to mind is several soldiers friends of mine who were fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq. One of the first businesses that was opened by Americans after ousting the Taliban was a video store, where they had porn…now, that is just wrong, introducing porn to a society where women were not even allowed to show their faces in public…just because you can do it, doesn’t mean you should do it.
real talk
I do feel free, right now I feel more free then I ever have in my life. It’s funny to say that because I have less then I can remember right now but it’s all my choice and that’s part of being free. I don’t have the stress of maintaining the lifestyle that I had 3 years ago and that makes me feel better. I’m just happy that I live in a place where I can be what I want at the level I want to be.
Yes, I do feel free. I am free to exercise and utilize my experiences, abilities, and knowledge to their fullest potenial….or not. If I have the resources to do something, I can do or not do, at my discretion.
.
I agree with E.L. “Many Americans mistake “freedom of choice” for “freedom to do exactly whatever the f*ck I want, regardless of law or social norms/morals.”” I find that those who feel that they are not free, havent took one proper step to procure a sense freedom. They havent a dime in the bank, nor a credit in a college, nor an idea in their head, but they feel that something is owed to them.
.
Its called the Pursuit of Happiness because it must be pursued. Trust me noone is sitting aroung waiting to make you happy. And we all have the Freedom to join in on the pursuit.
damn always thought you were a black guy Malcolm, i wonder if i will see your opinions from a different view now… no disrespect, just saying….
What a shame but if you really think about what you said you will turn a very important corner.
If it will make you feel better, I’ll be sure to clutch my wallet when I pass you in the street.
LOL!!!!! Dont forget to look at him like he doesnt belong here!!!!
lol, i guess that came out wrong, aimed more towards the racial topics… but yea i’ve been known to swipe a wallet or two….
Freedom.. freedome..? freedumb from what?? who? this place has been a playground, a testbed and a controlled lab experiment for a long time. I dont see how you can view yourself as “free” when u cannot CLEARLY AND CONCISELY define what ur free from. if you have no free form. If your ‘dome’ isnt free.
please expand on your comment ‘a testbed and a controlled lab experiment’
i don’t really think the USA has much freedom to, in the sense that there isn’t a solid education system in place that can get everyone through college and keep everyone out of jail. its more that people have freedom from interference which creates a capitalist society. i don’t really think thats freedom i think to truly be free the world needs a stronger community!
ALL OF YOU PROVE VALID POINTS, IN A LAND OF HYPED UP DREAMS AND FALSE DEMOCRACY AND HYPOCRACY, WE ARENT FREE, WE’RE ALL SOMEWHAT ENSLAVED BY THE BULLSHIT AMERICAN DREAM, WHICH WE ALL DIE CHASING AND “THIRD” WORLD COUNTRIES DREAM OF HAVING, WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY AND WORLD IN WHICH THE PUPPET MASTERS PULL OUR STRINGS AND MAKE US BELIEVE IN WHAT THEIR VISION OF “FREEDOM” IS, FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE, IT COMES WITH A PRICE, YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GET SENT TO BLEED, FIGHT AND DIE OLD MENS BATTLES/WARS AND IF YOU COME BACK FROM THIS “FREEDOM” BATTLE/WAR, A PART OF YOU STILL DIES, A “FREE” MIND AS A WHOLE WILL ONLY BE ACHIEVED WHEN THESE FALSE BULLSHIT GOVERNMENTS ARE NON EXISTENT, “FREEDOM” TO MOVE ABOUT, “FREEDOM” OF SPEECH, CHOICE AND ETC, ALL COMES WITH A PRICE, TRUE FREEDOM IS ACHIEVED WHEN YOUR MIND IS JUST THAT, FREE……..KNOWLEDGE OF SELF, THE MOST PRICELESS THING IN THIS WORLD, IS THE THING PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED, FREEDOM, REMEMBER YOUR PAST, APPRECIATE THE PRESENT AND BE READY FOR THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE.
The Champ is here!!! U put the rope directly around the Klansman’s neck on that 1. Ur words rang so true and it’s nice 2 c some ppl like yourself know the real deal here. Keep spit’n that venom playboy.
The whole concept of “independence day” was not meant with African Amercans in mind and never will they always revert back 2 Our Fore Fathers blah blah well your 4 fathers,yes I am going there with the Race Card.If u r darker than a napkin it aint happening.KKKrackuz were get’n punKKKed in England so they made “Pimp Decision” 2 snatch up AmeriKKKa and make it there own(now that’s some revolution 4 your ass).Freedom in some ways is a state of mind but with all that goes on in this KKKunt..try I hope u c Y I feel the way I do. I used 2 clouded up with the celebration of AmeriKKKa’s independence then I peeped game. I still do all the Bar b Q’n, get’n my sip on and of course 4play in some snow but as far as being proud and happy 2 be n AmeriKKKa …miss me with that Bullshit!!! As Malcolm X said just bcuz u were born here does not make u an AmeriKKKan.Happy 4th of Ju-lies.
COSIGN 100%, YOUR ON POINT MY DUDE!, I ENVISION A FREE NATION, WERE WE AS STRONG EDUCATED FREE MEN, SIT DOWN, FACE TO FACE AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT EVERY TOPIC, TOPICS THAT WILL LEAD TO THE ENLIGHTMENT OF THOSE WHO WALK AROUND IN DARKNESS, THE DUMB, DEAF AND BLIND, TILL THEN NATION, LET OUR ACTIONS SPEAK, FOR FREEDOM’S A CONTRADICTORY WORD USED BY MEN/WOMEN TO BLIND THE NATION OF THE REALITY OF A DOCUMENT WHOSE WORDS HAVE LOST VALUE, A FREE MIND, IS A POWERFUL MIND, A FREE MAN IS ONLY LIMITED BY THE STRENGTH OF HIS KNOWLEDGE, MENTAL SLAVERY IS THE DEATH OF THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE WORDS OF FALSE PREACHERS.
After reading everyones comments I find that to answer the question you have to get into a debate on semantics.
.
In my opinion, we are free because there is nowhere else you in this world you could go and be any more free, overall. To someone else we aren’t free because of they are deprived in certain areas that is important to them.
.
To place the thought process in another direction, you have a million dollars, U.S. funds, but everyone else has 10 million, YOU are now considered poor. It doesnt matter what you can do with your money, or how you budget or spend or invest your money, you are poor because you have less than everyone else. The same can be said about Freedom.
I feel free.
.
First, thank you to any current or former military personnel. Your willingness to stand a watch gives us all the ability to eat hot dogs, drink beer and complain about the price of gas here at home, while others around the world are fighting for the basic tools of survival.
.
In strictly historical terms, yes, we are still free. Prior to the revolution, the government could park a soldier in your house, where you were expected to feed and shelter them at your own expense. If you complained, you were put on a ship, transported across the ocean, and tried in front of people who had never been to America.
.
So short of that happening again, America is freer than it was before the revolution.
.
And to be honest, I do not fault any black Americans who carry bitterness toward America; especially at this time of year. The 4th of July is my favorite secular holiday, but then again, my ancestors weren’t dragged against their will to this country.
.
Added to that the hypocrisy that the people who stood up so loudly to argue the rights of man were the same slave owners who so abused these rights, I can entirely understand why black Americans wouldn’t be in the mood to celebrate our founding fathers.
.
But that being said: America is still the greatest, freest country on earth.
.
I agree with prior posts that there is a difference between the promise of freedom and the promise of success. You have the right to succeed, but with that comes the risk of failure. You have the right to do great things, but you also have the right to sit on your butt and do nothing.
.
In one country, your entire future is determined by how well you do on a single test given to you when you are a child. In another, if you are born a woman, you have no rights; only limited privileges granted to you by your husband or male relatives.
.
Here in America, if you come up with a new (legal) idea, and you’re willing to risk your time and money to develop it, there is NOTHING anyone can legally do to stop you from trying. The idea may make a million dollars, it may make nothing; but you still have the freedom to TRY.
.
America has the CAPACITY for freedom, even though many of its citizens have chosen to live in slavery instead. Slaves to debt, slaves to consumerism and the desire to posses THINGS. Slavery to their past, their fears, their desires.
.
Debt slavery is probably the most common, and the worse.
.
It’s one thing to say ‘I am free’, but how free are you if you can’t quit a job you don’t like because you have a mortgage around your neck?
You hit nail on the head. Ones freedom goes as far as one feels compelled to take it. If you dont like your job you can stay and deal with it until something better comes along or, you can quit and deal with whatever comes along with that decision. Once again its the PURSUIT of happiness.
Many of the posts on this topic have the commonality of choice. In America, we have the ability to choose for ourselves. The method to which freedom is measured can be argued endlessly. I find choice to be our greatest freedom in this nation. Our actions, whether good or bad, are those based of the choices we make. You choose to work or not, to have worldly items or nothing at all, to seek help or continue to struggle alone.
In this country, we are able to have any family we choose, traditional husband and wife, same sex marriage, no kids, adopted kids, a clown car’s amount of children, even remarriage. There are still countries in this world that place legal limits family sizes and prosecute for breaking that law, then end the life of the additional child.
Do we as Americans face judgment and criticism for our choices and actions? Yes. We all have the same freedom of speech and expression. All of us making posts on this website, and every other social website out there is a testament of our freedom as we detail our own criticism over our nation .
We don’t have freedom because there are laws in this nation that make some of our choices illegal? Laws are there, however ridiculous or disliked they are, for our better because somewhere down the line, enough people did wrong to the point where a bill had to be written. Don’t believe me. Make the use of alcohol and drugs while operating a vehicle legal, then try and impose legal ramifications on the individual that crashes into your wife and kids, killing them, because said individual was under the influence.
My closing statement is simple. We are free, all of us are free. If you don’t the freedom you have, you are not proud to be American, please, you are welcome to leave. Yes, as a free citizens, we even have to choice to leave, unharmed, unlike those that tried to leave their countries and were killed by their countrymen for it, like Cuba, certain African Nations, Pakistan, Afghanistan and former Soviet Russia.
Keep think’n that we are free bullshit if u want 2.AmeriKKKa duz have some XXXtra choices that must KKKuntries don’t but that does not make u free in the least.We r free as in no slavery, no Dick-head-tatorship etc date who u want, marry who u want, those r basics 2 what is suppose 2 be the greatest KKKunt…try in the world,again just bcuz u r born here…..Never mind keep the clouds rolling in. In UnKKKle Rukus voice Bless U AmeriKKKa and your sweet air may slavery come back 2 US.