Freedoms

Some might wonder what I was thinking when I posted the video regarding the Bundy controversy in Nevada; and to be completely honest it was because I have been thinking a lot about our freedoms lately.  I believe that what is going on in Nevada right now screams out to the people of this nation to step up and reclaim what is ours.  Our government (both parties are to blame) keeps taking away from the people all in the name of  "keeping us safe". 

What is freedom?  Be definition freedom is the power or right to act, speak or think as one would like without hindrance or restraint.  With this in mind, why is it when someone doesn't agree with what you have to say one party or another forgets that you have the freedom, that basic right to speak your mind without hindrance or restraint?  I recently attended a Constitutional Symposium where Elder Dallin H. Oaks (a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) spoke.  He did not speak in a religious capacity but spoke from his many years and vast knowledge in the legal field.

He touched on several things, but the one that stood out to me the most was how intertwined our Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion really is.  With his he talked about simple disagreements, and how often times when we might not agree with someone (my example would be politics) we get labeled as a bigot or a racist.  Do you not find it sad that in a nation of supposed freedoms we are labeled a particular way because we don' see eye to eye with someone? This goes hand and hand with censorship and politically correct speech.  Elder Oaks stated that far too often we see that the marketplace is used to punish those who may say something  that is unpopular in popular culture or how people are criminalized for so called "hate speech".  How often does someone say something and then the media only plays a small clip taking a comment completely out of context.  Far too frequently in my opinion.  Along the same lines we can also see how popular football player Tim Tebow was criticized by many individuals and media outlets for speaking out about his Christian beliefs.  I actually stumbled across an article that harshly criticized him for speaking at a Christian University because the university held to a strict belief of no premarital sex.

 First off, there are several Christian schools that teach this and uphold this moral code and it is their freedom to do so.  The only reason it became controversial is because the lame stream media made it so.  Why does someone with morals not have the freedom to voice their opinion?  I guess because it isn't the "cool" thing to do, but it is their right to exercise their freedoms!  Come on America, there needs to be more Tim Tebow's in the world! He is that rare gem in a garden of weeds! Could we really ask for a better popular role model?

Personally when I think of freedom the word agency also comes to mind.  In the beginning God (or whatever higher power you choose to believe in) gave us all agency, the ability to choose good or bad for ourselves.  In today's world some may call this personal responsibility.  My belief is that I am responsible for the choices I make, no one else...ME!  If I choose to do something bad, I am not free from the consequences of that bad choice.  I have to stand up and take responsibility for the choice I made. In the society we live in we see parents constantly taking away their kids' freedom by not allowing them to reap what they sow.   A prime example happened in 2013 when teens trashed an ex-football players home and the parents instead of being mad at their kids got made at the man and actually threatened to sue him.  Excuse me?  What in the crap is this world coming too?  Many parents do this in the name of "helping" their child, but really what are they teaching them other then they can do whatever and mommy or daddy will be there to clean up the mess. They are not helping them, they are hurting them!  Freedom doesn't mean that we are free from taking responsibility for our actions!

Freedom means different things to different people, so I thought I would take the question to my friends and family on Facebook.  The responses were great!  Here are just a few I thought I would share!

From my good friend James who is currently serving our country and stationed in Afghanistan...

    "Freedom is not being free from consequences.  This is the great lie.  Every decision we make has consequences, especially the private ones.  In fact, I would argue that on an eternal scale it is the decisions we make when no other earthly soul is looking that will have the greatest ramifications on us. So Freedom certainly is not being free from consequences as such is both impossible and immoral.  I would say that Freedom as we have come to define is comprised of three essential parts, First equal opportunity. Everyone in this country has the same opportunities available to them.  Sure some get a leg up the ladder because of birth into wealth or fame, but birth alone does not disqualify anyone in this country from pursuing the desires of their heart. Second would be consistency of consequence for those who are accused of violating our laws.  It is absolutely imperative that the rights of the accused are feverishly protected.  Our Founding Fathers knew this, and that is why the majority of the Bill of Rights deals specifically with this issue.  Third is freedom to change our government.  Looking back through history, examples can be sited were the system failed the first two points I discussed.  No system of government can be perfect because it is both designed and operated by imperfect people (some more than others).  We however, must remember governments are instituted by the people for the sole purpose of protecting its citizens, and when it fails to do so, it is the peoples responsibility  to find out why it failed, and then if necessary change it so it doesn't fail the same way again.  As soon as the people become so complacent that they lose the desire to protect their own freedoms, those freedoms will no longer be theirs to protect."

"Freedom is being able to do what I feel is best for our family." ~ Katie

"Freedom is not the absences of external restrictions but rather the recognition of personal discretion." ~ Mark

I wholeheartedly agree with all what all three said and would even go as far as to point that "We the people" have become to be complacent.  When our government is allowed to spy on us and people say "who cares, I have nothing to hide" they are failing to see that the government is taking away basic freedoms. 

My hope is that as Americans we will wake up before it is too late!