Blog Guelph: Freedom's Just Another Word

Osprey, a photo by G. Norsworthy on Flickr.

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose

And nothin' ain't worth nothin' honey but it's free.

-Kris Kristofferson, Me and Bobby McGee

Freedom is a loaded idea. It’s about so many things. And defined by the dictionary it is the power to determine action without restraint.

Think on that: the power to determine action without restraint.

It’s a form of chaos.

If we had lived our lives completely free to do whatever we wanted, humanity would have accomplished nothing. We would have never built the many architectural wonders of the world or landed on the moon. We would have never done a heart transplant, talked on the telephone, or even discovered North America.

The most spectacular and important things in our lives are the ones we work to build. And to build, we have to understand how to determine our actions with restraint and to respect frameworks. We have to be able to understand that what truly makes us happy is having the power and the bravery and the personal strength to be able to commit ourselves to walking the line - respecting boundaries, understanding each other, building structures that strengthen our relationships.  

Interestingly, I heard someone recently say that they would post or make comments on Facebook regardless if it hurt someone. Their rationale was: “it’s a free country.”

Is that freedom?

Should your neighbours have the freedom to come on your property whenever they want? Should your boss be free not to pay you this week? Should the person you love feel they can betray you with someone else because it is their freedom? Should someone have the right to hurt you because it’s a “free country”? Where does that freedom find limits?

Well I guess we’re all free to make our choices in life, but that freedom comes with a price. And there are always consequences to determining your actions without restraint.

For me, I’m with Kris – I think freedom’s just another word. And maybe some people have nothing left to lose.

But I’m not one of them.

~ Aidan M.D. Ware

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But if you are "free" this weekend check out Fourth Fridays tomorrow night (downtown), Doors Open Guelph on Saturday, the Jazz Festival Art Auction on Sunday!!

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