Not the kind of freedom that the right-wing stand for. I don’t want to be superior to other races, religions, creeds, nationalities or genders.
Freedom means being tolerant of others.
Freedom means caring for others.
Freedom means living in a society which does not oppress or suppress anybody.
I want the choice.
I want the chance to be whoever I am – whether that’s black, white, brown, gay, straight, male, female, trans, atheist, Christian, Muslim, Hindu of whatever.
Freedom is being able to read whatever I like.
Freedom is being able to wear whatever I like.
Freedom is being able to be different without being bullied.
Freedom is being able to be offensive without being aggressive.
Freedom is being able to say whatever you like.
Freedom is being able to live however I choose.
Freedom is being able to worship whatever I want.
Freedom is being able to go where-ever I choose.
Freedom is not infringing on the freedom’s of others.
I’m all for freedom!
But I believe a society should be caring and compassionate and judged on how well it treats its poorest and weakest. Freedom is providing a safe space for everyone.
The right-wing is inherently opposed to freedom. They prefer control, division, superiority, hierarchy and power (just as long as they are at the top and the ones in control).
Oh Yes!
🌈🌈✌✌👌👌🌏🌏🌞🌞🌏🌏👌👌✌✌🌈🌈
Freedom means living your life the way you choose and allowing others to do the same. Great poem, I very much agree!
Cheers Pooj. Needs saying.
My take is that rights and freedoms are earned by each individual. And the way you earn your own rights and freedoms is by respecting the equal rights of others.
As to what the rights and freedoms are, at the highest level I follow John Locke’s view: Being all equal and independent, no-one should harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions.
When you say “the right wing” is inherently opposed to freedom, I think you really mean that the state is inherently opposed to freedom. It claims right to tax us, to rule over us, to make wars, and lots more. And it doesn’t take responsibility for what it does. That is true no matter who is in charge of it: monarchists, socialists, fascists, theocrats or false “democrats.” Tories or Labour, they’re essentially the same.
I am all for respecting the rights of others Neil. As to putting Locke’s views into practice, that is impossible. It’s an ideal. In practice we have to find adequate compromises. Interaction with anybody impinges on our freedoms. Being part of a society inevitably impinges on our personal freedoms. It’s compromise. There has to be rules. It is getting that balance right that is the essence. Different people will draw the lines in different places.
No. I mean the right wing. We see it most clearly in the exaggerated scene of American Politics. It is the right who are intolerant; who want to suppress birth control, abortion, drug use, impose censorship on books and films, ban groups, oppress minorities (gays, trans etc) and wish to impose strict codes, 10 commandments, religion and social codes. Same here but to a lesser extent (as yet) – the war on ‘Woke’, the oppression of gays and trans, and the xenophobic attack on immigrants and foreigners. God King and Country. A level of conformity.
As for the State – I see the need for government. It is necessary. What I want is:
transparency
scrutiny
responsibility
and accountability.
I want a democracy that works (a balanced media or unbiased media) and proportional representation so every vote counts.