Freedom

Sta. Rosa, Laguna 2012
nixasis

What is your definition of freedom?

I posted this question as my Facebook status last night. Within minutes, I received a handful of insightful answers from friends, students and colleagues. Here are some of them:

"When no one is controlling every little thing you're doing"-Lea (HS student)

"Knowing your limitations and being aware of your responsibilities."- Ralph (HS student)

"Living the way you want to want to live."-Yvette (colleague)

"Having God in your life."-Yuan (colleague)

Webster defined freedom as "the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action". Is this what freedom is all about? On the contrary, Bob Dylan stated that "No one is free, even the birds are chained to the sky." If that's the case, is there even such a thing as being free?

Come to think of it, it is impossible to do whatever we like because we are bound by consequences.We are even chained to the little voice inside our head, our conscience. So we cannot equate freedom with doing things on a whim or out of overwhelming emotions. Can we say then that freedom is the absence of rules? Ironically, freedom has boundaries. The rule of law is its parameters. You can arrange varied notes whichever way you want, even by veering  away from the rules of tonality. But you still have a basis in composing any type of music, no matter how atonal it gets. So, if we were limited by laws and consequences, what then is being free? Can we find liberty in politics, in media, or in religion? Does freedom even exist?

First and foremost, freedom is being bold and conscious in taking chances towards becoming a better human being. But it shouldn't end there. Rudolf Steiner said, "Live through deeds of love, and let others live with understanding for each person's unique intentions." This, I believe, is the true essence of freedom. We are only free if we love so much that we accept others for who they are and give them the space to be who they ought to be.