Freedom is one of the most important concepts humanity has ever conceived. It is mysterious and hard to define, while also being extremely important for daily life. Freedom, for many people, is the ability to pursue their own existence on their own terms. On the contrary, others believe freedom is the ability to not be harmed, or rather the freedom to exist.
Both of these understandings are valid. Ultimately, freedom continues to have no true definition, and like fascism, it is a “you know it when you see it” type of thing. Regardless, there have been moments in history and in the current day when people don’t have it. So, if the definition continues to be vague, and one knows it when they see it, what does it mean to have freedom?
The Struggle
Freedom from oppression is one of the most important forms . For example, African Americans have been fighting for this basic idea ever since 1619, when the first enslaved Africans reached the shore of America. While black people can vote and be presidents, this only encompasses civic freedom and in many ways, Black people are being actively repressed and oppressed in that area as well.
“The desire for freedom by enslaved African Americans manifested itself during the early stages of the nation’s development. Their decisions to run away or to publicly express their disdain for slavery in writing or in the courts illustrated the importance of freedom for them,” according to The National Museum of African American History and Culture.
A greater example is the hair of black people. For the past several hundred years in American culture, black hair was seen as inherently dirty and unprofessional. In the modern era, Black people have been pushing for the right to exist in their own cultural hairstyles instead of having to assimilate into the Euro-centric status quo. However, in acquiring freedom there always seems to be some struggle to get it.
Ideas Worth Dying For
In history, freedom tends to be won, and or fought for in bloody wars and gritty battles. This could be because the nature of freedom is a reality-changing force that if any group or subgroup were to have freedoms gained or taken away, it would fundamentally change the nature of that society.
For example, when women’s right to choose was taken from American women in June 2022, it fundamentally changed the nature of American society. So freedom, in this way, becomes a society-bending force.
“Reproductive rights are essential for women to enjoy their human rights. These rights are centered on women’s ability to make the best choices for their lives, including around the number of children they have, if any, and the spacing between their children’s births. Reproductive rights include prenatal services, safe childbirth, and access to contraception,” according to Human Rights watch.
Because freedom is no small thing, people will fight and die in wars for it. What this means is that this vague idea is worth dying for, so it must be valuable. To have freedom is important to every human being who has ever lived. Any human being that has ever dreamed of doing anything, or any human being that has ever been oppressed in any fashion. Without freedom, the human condition becomes an unbearable existence.
Binding Freedoms
What this means is that freedom is inherently tied to the quality of life a person has. With a certain amount of unquantifiable freedoms, a person can be content with life. An example of this is the right to marry whomever they please. However, without a certain amount of unquantifiable freedoms, a person’s existence can be a grueling nightmare. An example of this is chattel slavery in America.
Finally, freedom seems to be like the force in “Star Wars” it binds people together in shared freedoms, and exists in every living thing. The right to exist, regardless of identity is important for a society to maintain. This can be seen in both America’s past and present when it comes to the treatment of its marginalized citizens.
Ultimately, this concept continues to be a vague “know it when you see it” concept. However, Optimus Prime said that freedom is the right of all sentient beings, and if a 28-foot alien robot can understand this it can’t be too hard to get.
Written by Kenneth Mazerat
Sources
NMAAHCSIEdu: Defining Freedom
Vox: 5 things people still get wrong about slavery
HRW: Reproductive Rights and Abortion
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Mike Batley’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Johnny Silvercloud’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
