Freedom?

[scottdog]

why does america use the word freedom so much? What makes it anymore free then other western countries?

Freedom is becoming such an over used word these days, its starting to lose it's meaning. I live in Australia and hardly ever is the word "Freedom" a reason for anything.

Do you (Americans) consider yourselves move free then say england, france or germany?

[enigma]

The more philosophical question is, what does freedom really mean and who is trully free?

[Dutchlike]

Freedom is a great song from Jimi Hendrix.
The word is'nt realy used much in Holland, although we had a conversation with our german teacher about it :p.

[biggles]

The more philosophical question is, what does freedom really mean and who is trully free?

I knew this one would come up.....

Well, freedom could be:

a. The ability to think what you want.

b. The ability to say what you want.

c. The ability to do what you want.

d. All the above.

Then again, it might be something completely different. It's one of those big mysteries of life.....like what comes after death or love, or anything like that. Perhaps death is the only true way to freedom?

[Corporate Ignorance]

Freedom is indeed a philosophical matter...


Freedom is not "do anything and say anything" you would like....
All rational European( by european I mean heirs of european humanism, as a concept) human soceites had and still have regulations that make freedom possible. Because political gangs like Hitler's for example also did and say what they want, but it wasn't freedom for the rest of humanity it was freedom for Hitler's gang.

What you stated above, my friend resembles "anarchy", more then freedom.



To my mind, freedom is an ability to feel respect for each other rights, and do what you want to do and say what you want but with realization that you are not the only one and you should respect others. So there are borders of freedom ...I know it sounds kinda vague, because during history often those "borders of acceptable freedom" were diffrent.:) But I belive that freedom is not possible without justice. Even, to the some extand, freedom is justice. Again, justice is quite a contoversial topic, so...:)

[Katulobotomia]

I think freedom is such an overused word. I think freedom is to have options.

You can choose not to go to work, but you would loose your source of income. You can choose who you marry, but you will loose the ethnic rights to date other people (usually).

You can choose where you want to go.
You can choose what you eat and when you eat.
You can decide what clothes to wear and what to believe.

Usually people dont realize how much they have until they loose it. Like when I was in army, I was told what to wear, how to wear it, what to eat and when. How to speak and when. Where to go and when to shower. Everything was planned and tightly controlled. Even going to take a walk at free time you had to go and tell the "admin" :D where you are going and when you need to come back.

That was the biggest problem with me in the army that I didnt have any freedom to do my own stuff. (very limited anyway) Even going to the toilet or shower ment other people standing next to me taking a crap. No privacy.

Freedom is to be able to choose your own actions, even if they are bad.

[Strangel]

why does america use the word freedom so much? What makes it anymore free then other western countries?

Freedom is becoming such an over used word these days, its starting to lose it's meaning. I live in Australia and hardly ever is the word "Freedom" a reason for anything.

Do you (Americans) consider yourselves move free then say england, france or germany?


We're all "free" in the political sense (western countries). Rights, speech, etc. Maybe the reason why Americans cherish our "freedoms" more than Aussies is because our ancestors came here to escape persicution and your ancestors were persecuted then "put" there. Lol. Every human in the world is truly free. All they have to do is decide to be. Could get messy though so some of us limit our freedoms (being "free") and others let their freedoms be limited for them.

[enigma]

Rights, speech, etc

So you can say whatever you feel like and never be proscuted or at least someone going :eek: for it? ;)


:p

[BillSpargo]

Americans cherish their freedoms so much because they bang-on about them so much.

[Byron]

why does america use the word freedom so much? What makes it anymore free then other western countries?

Freedom is becoming such an over used word these days, its starting to lose it's meaning. I live in Australia and hardly ever is the word "Freedom" a reason for anything.

Do you (Americans) consider yourselves move free then say england, france or germany?

Honestly scott, not one person can technically answer it, the word freedom is going to have a different meaning or definition for every American/Westerner. I personally feel there is no one definition for freedom, how can one person be more free than another, its all of how a person perceives the word or concept of freedom, if it means claiming blank threats towards buildings Id say Germany and France (didnt mention england because Im not fond of them) are much more free than americans. But freedom to me is the ability to practice whatever religion I wish, study whatever the hell I wish, and do what I want and when I want. Sorry I have to cut this short but I have a whining puppy in the other room that needs attention Ill get back to this

[Timblesink]

Compulsory voting is forcing people to be free.

[Strangel]

So you can say whatever you feel like and never be proscuted or at least someone going :eek: for it? ;)


:p

Right. Nobody can prosecute you for saying something. You can get sued, however, for slander and such but it's not a criminal offense. Unless you're in the military. Then you can get prosecuted for saying whatever you want. At least that's how it is in the USA.

[xtc-alec]

"the power to exercise choice and make decisions without constraint from within or without"

Well do you have the right to exercise your choice without constraint?

Not Really joining in this discussion just thought that quote will help.

[BillSpargo]

Right. Nobody can prosecute you for saying something. You can get sued, however, for slander and such but it's not a criminal offense. Unless you're in the military. Then you can get prosecuted for saying whatever you want. At least that's how it is in the USA.
You can be prosecuted for sedition in Australia.