Freedom! - from what exactly?
One of the strongest themes I experience in the US culture is to cherish freedom. I'm interested in what it means to you - freedom from what exactly? The first obvious points that permeate the way the constitution was written is freedom from a tyrant ruler, freedom of speach, to bear arms and freedom to worship any religion one wants. Are there any further points you find important?
I don't have the definitive answer but the question of freedom came up during lectures at uni when I did history. When confronted with freedom you have to establish whether it's a freedom from something or a freedom to do something, then you can get stuck in
Thank you for that post. I have been pondering upon it for some time, and every time I take it up with people from the US they get stroppy with me and often carry on about loving their country. So when I ask what that means they cannot rightly answer. Especially when I point out to them all those countries around the world that are free and have health care too.
Interesting. The key motivation for the first settlers from the UK - The pioneers and the pilgrims who settled in New England was to my knowledge the desire to be free from the Church of England - and be able to practice the belief they desired. This was the time where the influence of Martin Luther meant a break with the Roman Catholic Church and several new directions of Protestantism emerged. A history lesson taught me that the reason there are 13 small states in New England instead of just one - is that various strains of religion grouped up in the different locations which later was the basis for each state.
We will have to see if others have any comments. I'm very interested in peoples comments.