Let me ask you a
question: “Would you stand around stark naked in front of a crowd, if you
could? Yes, and why, or no, and why not?”
For some, it may seem
like a bizarre question. Who, in their right mind would do something despicable
like that? Let alone, even think of doing such a disgraceful act? The decision
on whether to do it or not lies on free will and freedom of choice,
to which every human being is entitled to. What could be right or wrong for
you, is not necessarily the same for everyone.
We are born free, and
have every right to be free. People that have lost such fundamental freedom
through external oppression or conquest are said to be “liberated”, when
freedom is restored. We talk about different kinds of freedom-- belief, choice,
expression, speech, assembly, and the list goes on. Human beings want to live
their lives as they please, without coercion. But what is freedom, really? How
does one become truly free?
Freedom is usually
depicted as liberation from any form of restraint or from the power of another,
usually in physical terms or aspects. It is often described as a source of
happiness, the most important of values, and the hallmark of civilization.
People pride themselves of freedom and democracy, continually promoting and
emphasizing it as they live on. They dislike to a certain degree, being
conquered by any type of negative power, and allow themselves to be dominated.
If it were not for the brave, heroic figures who dared to fight against
opposing forces in order to protect freedom, society would not be where it is
today.
Nowadays, freedom is
defined as independence, acting based on one’s own decisions without influence
of any laws. People have no way of getting the purest form of freedom there is,
which is absolute freedom. However, this is often mistaken as a right of
getting what a person wants, usually through any physical, mental,
or spiritual means. Some take it as fickle and arbitrary, though it should not
be. They use it as an excuse to pursue whatever objective they have in mind, to
live and act in whatever manner they prefer. Having the right knowledge and
using choices for the right reason gives us the right to be human, however,
doing the opposite makes us inhuman. Freedom allows each and every person
opportunities to make decisions that govern their life, and make their quality
of life higher, yet respecting the rights of others.
Our actions are
undeniably constrained. “It is by the goodness of God that in most countries
we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of
conscience, and the prudence never to practice either of them,” according
to Mark Twain. Genuine freedom doesn’t mean that a person could do just about
anything he desires. A truly free person lives out their life making decisions
based on their sense of morality, guided by their conscience, and follows
obligations and relationships that provide the essence of their lives.
Freedom and the Youth
The youth often yearn
for true, absolute freedom. They are put into situations wherein they often
feel restrained, similar as being locked inside an imaginary prison, even in
the comfort of their own homes. They cannot always get what they want, may it
be physical or non-physical desires. They need to think about what actions to
take and not to take, how to exercise self-control, how to exude politeness and
manners, if deemed necessary, and to choose to do things for the right reason. "For
to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that
respects and enhances the freedom of others,” says Nelson Mandela.
In this era, rampant
drug use, premarital sex, pornography, crimes, and other widely-known immoral
issues are very common. The heaviness of mortal sin is evident. People are well
aware of what is perceived as “good” or “bad” in the public eye, yet they still
do it, whether performed in secret or not. Without proper guidance and
formation, teens tend allow themselves to be led through the sea of temptation.
The power and influence of society and environment play a crucial role in
cultivating their desires. The tendency is to spiral out of control and before
they know it, the deed is already done. To prevent these things from happening,
one should be fully aware of the long term consequences and the harmful effects
of giving in to the pressures of conforming to what others think is acceptable
and right. This is where the gift of conscience plays a major role.
Every human body is the
temple of God. Yes, people are born free, but they are not promised absolute
freedom. We can do anything we want as long as it is in accordance with the
Will of God, follows all moral laws and rules, and respects the rights of
others.
Freedom and the
Universal Laws
In order to act freely,
one should not allow themselves to be affected by any peculiar circumstances,
desires, or goals. They should choose the same way others would choose, with
the guidance of right knowledge and reason. They should act as others ought to
act. Knowledge of moral, civil and divine laws are taken into account,
propelled with the right motive and intention.
The mind governs and
controls all aspects of the body. It can command any part to function the way
you want it to, such as bring forth positive, healthy energy or destructive,
negative ones. Anything in excess becomes poison. The constant practice of self-control
and fortitude will eventually form a habit that will benefit you in the long
term. Make it a habit to think before you act.
The Law of Attraction
states, “What you think, you become.” Further delved upon and explained
in several books about how it governs every aspect of people’s lives, it
empowers one to transform his, in every positive way imaginable.
Why are we born free? We
are born with freedom to choose and free will in order to take care of God’s
creations, which also includes us in the loop. The weight of our actions rests
heavily on our shoulders, and builds up our character and personality, our
lives, and how we choose to see the world. Freedom is all about respect;
respect for one’s self and respect for the rights of others. Our human laws,
the ones we act based on, is fully dependent on Natural and Divine Laws. We
cannot become absolutely and completely free people, because we cannot achieve
the impossible with our own human hands.
Expressions of Freedom
and Psychological Slavery
Technology
In this rapidly evolving
digital age, living and thriving in a period wherein anything and everything is
easily accessible to all, regardless of where they are, makes one bound to be
caught up in the indulgences of the world at some point. The culture of
oversharing is the very definition of physical freedom. Through the use of the
internet, blogs, social media sites, gadgets, and other wonders of technology,
anyone can express themselves to a vast audience around the globe, in many
different ways.
Do most people even
pause to think about the appropriateness of their content and the value of the
message they are trying to get across, to people who view their posts? How
people act online is a reflection of individual strengths, weaknesses, and
insecurities, no matter how perfectly they portray their lives. Enslaved by
approval ratings measured through praises or number of “likes”, this represents
an individual’s never ending quest for acceptance.
The Concept of Beauty
Enhancing one’s external looks
would be classified as one of the boldest, healthiest way of expressing
freedom. There is that thought, until we burrow deeper into the darker side of
beauty. Somehow, across the years, the demand for the use of modern cosmetics
and plastic surgery has risen in alarming levels. The Journal of Plastic and
Reconstructive Surgery (USA) reported in October 2007 a fascinating survey from
UCLA scientists. They had found that forty-eight percent of women said they
would be interested in cosmetic surgery, liposuction or both, while another 23
percent said they would possibly be interested. This obsession with changing
one’s physical appearance seems to be accompanied by a startling psychological
devastation that afflicts even the youngest members of society. The National
Eating Disorders Association (USA) reported that more than fifty percent of
ten-year old girls wish they were thinner.
Even if freedom is
widely present in our lives, psychological slavery coexists with it, as well.
It is a terrifying thought that pre-pubescent children are willing to go under
the knife just for the sake of appearances. The fact that they would even
consider permanently changing at least one part of their body, is propelled by
feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. It seems that in the olden days, early
media have set up an unwritten standard for beauty, and this affected
everyone’s perception about it. The said mindset is being passed on from
generation to generation, up to the present. Having a sense of superiority among
all the others aesthetically, seems much more important to some, than anything
else. Rather than focusing on worldwide concerns and donating to organizations
that aim to alleviate issues focused on real-world suffering such as poverty,
hunger, and lack of education, people seem pretty keen on keeping their
confidence about their superficial beauty intact, more than letting their inner
beauty shine.
Idolatry
Another factor under
psychological slavery is that it often comes in addiction. Addiction of entertainment,
illusion and fantasy is another major part of anyone’s life. People have at
least experienced fawning over a local celebrity, obsessing over a couple of TV shows and dramas, and tuning in to the latest showbiz, at one point in their
lives. The popularity of these topics sometimes surpass those of war and
worldwide suffering. They hinder focus on religion, studies, education, and
work.
This is referred to as
idolatry. Every type of idolatry is especially present in this modern age:
through giving more importance on one’s self, long-spent hours on the
television and surfing the internet, through worshiping and making celebrities
seem like gods and not just role models, and so on. The act of idolatry
violates Divine law, or the Decalogue, specifically in the first commandment.
Given the varying
arguments about freedom, one question still remains: “Are you truly free?”
The decision lies on
what we are and what specific goals we have in our lives and that of others.
What is our purpose? What do we stand for? If freedom is love, living in
accordance with God’s holy will and universal laws, being free means harnessing
the good for the greater benefit of all. If freedom means moving in harmony and
congruence with the world, devoid of hindrances that chain and enslave us, only
then we can say that we are truly free.
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