A look at Freedom :- Vinit Ogale
What is freedom ? The right to be free, the state of being free ? Which of course forces us to ask free from what ? As we think about it, it suddenly dawns upon us that freedom is not really easy to understand, much less define. On looking up its definition we see that freedom is "liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another". So is that really freedom? Who then truly is free? Is freedom then just another yard spun old wives tale. No, it is not so. Is your freedom so fragile that it can be shattered into a million pieces by simple act of restraint. Do you rob you child of its freedom when you force him to eat spinach at dinner.
The true meaning of freedom, I believe is simply the power to think. No man, beast or machine can ever strip you of your freedom. Each and every person has within him the power to free himself. Placing someone in a cell can never imprison his mind. Covering his eyes can not curtail his sight. But convince him to stop thinking and you have imprisoned him for eternity.
This leads us to religion and religious instruction. So often, we see around us, someone saying that earth is flat, pigs can fly and not going to church is heretic. Do they stop and think "Why?". Of course, they say,because the orange catholic vedas or the Dela Lama says so. Please understand here that I am not attacking what the orange vedas or Dela Lama says. In fact I hold both in high regard because they like all free people represent and embody independent thought. But the written word no matter how ancient or widely accepted can never replace what you think. If you read something and agree with it then you still remain free. But once you start justifying your actions by resting on the orange catholic vedas and not the pillars of independent thought, you throw away your priceless freedom just so that you no longer need to take the effort to think.
What is freedom ? The right to be free, the state of being free ? Which of course forces us to ask free from what ? As we think about it, it suddenly dawns upon us that freedom is not really easy to understand, much less define. On looking up its definition we see that freedom is "liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another". So is that really freedom? Who then truly is free? Is freedom then just another yard spun old wives tale. No, it is not so. Is your freedom so fragile that it can be shattered into a million pieces by simple act of restraint. Do you rob you child of its freedom when you force him to eat spinach at dinner.
The true meaning of freedom, I believe is simply the power to think. No man, beast or machine can ever strip you of your freedom. Each and every person has within him the power to free himself. Placing someone in a cell can never imprison his mind. Covering his eyes can not curtail his sight. But convince him to stop thinking and you have imprisoned him for eternity.
This leads us to religion and religious instruction. So often, we see around us, someone saying that earth is flat, pigs can fly and not going to church is heretic. Do they stop and think "Why?". Of course, they say,because the orange catholic vedas or the Dela Lama says so. Please understand here that I am not attacking what the orange vedas or Dela Lama says. In fact I hold both in high regard because they like all free people represent and embody independent thought. But the written word no matter how ancient or widely accepted can never replace what you think. If you read something and agree with it then you still remain free. But once you start justifying your actions by resting on the orange catholic vedas and not the pillars of independent thought, you throw away your priceless freedom just so that you no longer need to take the effort to think.
1 comment:
Hey, really an original definition of freedom!
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