Good Morning, Class. Today's waking thought was about Freedom. Let's have a few complex thoughts about Freedom.
Define it. What is freedom? Is it safety? Is it happiness? Does it mean nothing bad ever happens? Will everything be easier (getting to work, paying the bills, dealing with Uncle Ed)? Does it mean I can do what I want, when I want? Does it mean everyone will do what I want, when I want?
Wait, did you think Webster's has the most complete definition of a word? No, no. A definition is more than two or three phrases that sum up the meaning of a word. Broaden your definition of definition. Make it encompass the entire idea behind a word. Ask yourself what it means today, how the idea of freedom will effect you today. If you don't do this each day, you become a schmuck. A downtrodden, working class schmuck. One of the masses. You know who rules the masses? Anyone that takes the time to think about bigger ideas, even if their thoughts are bent and not in line with yours.
This is going to get complicated, and pronouns will stop working. For the sake of clarity, let's give Anyone from above a name - George. George has been thinking (and believing what he thinks, especially after he says it out loud) that freedom means he's free to do as he wants. He wants good things, of course, like to be safe, and happy, and comfortable. He believes that everyone wants these things, so, being free, he would do well to make it so that everyone feels safe, and happy, and comfortable. George sounds great when he talks, and it's easy to agree with him when he talks about ways you can join a group to make things better for everyone. No smoking, no eating food that makes you fat, no speeding in your car, no talking about people of different color in a bad way. You didn't take the time to think about freedom, but George has apparently done it already and done it pretty good, so you don't need to. You are free to agree, right?
Freedom is not comfortable. It's doesn't feel the same to each of us. It isn't something someone gives you, or something you deserve. It's something you use, it's there all the time, and if someone else doesn't want you to have it, it will hurt both of you. It is not effected by scale - truth and freedom exist in the minute and the infinite. Misguidance and freedom don't do well together. You are free to move all your belongings down by the river, free to build a dwelling there, and declare it yours. When the rains come, and the ice jams, and the floods, you will be free to sit on the couch and let it. You will be free to demand that your neighbors pony up to replace your dwelling and your stuff. Here's where freedom runs into other things, like greed and jealousy. The neighbors are actually free to say no, but they are also free to covet what you had there by the river.
THis will have to wait.
Define it. What is freedom? Is it safety? Is it happiness? Does it mean nothing bad ever happens? Will everything be easier (getting to work, paying the bills, dealing with Uncle Ed)? Does it mean I can do what I want, when I want? Does it mean everyone will do what I want, when I want?
Wait, did you think Webster's has the most complete definition of a word? No, no. A definition is more than two or three phrases that sum up the meaning of a word. Broaden your definition of definition. Make it encompass the entire idea behind a word. Ask yourself what it means today, how the idea of freedom will effect you today. If you don't do this each day, you become a schmuck. A downtrodden, working class schmuck. One of the masses. You know who rules the masses? Anyone that takes the time to think about bigger ideas, even if their thoughts are bent and not in line with yours.
This is going to get complicated, and pronouns will stop working. For the sake of clarity, let's give Anyone from above a name - George. George has been thinking (and believing what he thinks, especially after he says it out loud) that freedom means he's free to do as he wants. He wants good things, of course, like to be safe, and happy, and comfortable. He believes that everyone wants these things, so, being free, he would do well to make it so that everyone feels safe, and happy, and comfortable. George sounds great when he talks, and it's easy to agree with him when he talks about ways you can join a group to make things better for everyone. No smoking, no eating food that makes you fat, no speeding in your car, no talking about people of different color in a bad way. You didn't take the time to think about freedom, but George has apparently done it already and done it pretty good, so you don't need to. You are free to agree, right?
Freedom is not comfortable. It's doesn't feel the same to each of us. It isn't something someone gives you, or something you deserve. It's something you use, it's there all the time, and if someone else doesn't want you to have it, it will hurt both of you. It is not effected by scale - truth and freedom exist in the minute and the infinite. Misguidance and freedom don't do well together. You are free to move all your belongings down by the river, free to build a dwelling there, and declare it yours. When the rains come, and the ice jams, and the floods, you will be free to sit on the couch and let it. You will be free to demand that your neighbors pony up to replace your dwelling and your stuff. Here's where freedom runs into other things, like greed and jealousy. The neighbors are actually free to say no, but they are also free to covet what you had there by the river.
THis will have to wait.
This was written in 2012 or '13, and then I hit publish in 2021 so we'll never know for sure.
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