It is a terrible thing to live without freedom.
Freedom to move.
Freedom to speak.
Freedom to live.
Freedom to know the truth.
Freedom to tell the truth.
Freedom to love.
Freedom to hate.
Freedom to fuck.
Freedom to sleep at any damned hour one pleases.
And most importantly: Freedom to think.
The bloodiest battles in human history often revolve around the overwhelming desire to gain freedom and oust tyranny and oppression. Fighting for freedom rouses the greatest passions in people. There is no greater frustration in humankind than to be incapacitated by bonds of any kind.
But perhaps the greatest source of struggle for freedom comes not from great battles or revolutions, but from little struggles from little people in their little lives. The small girl is not allowed to go out and play with the other kids at the park. The young woman finds herself once again receiving the wrath of her parent after foolishly speaking her own mind. The old man in the wheelchair looks wistfully at the strong legs of his running grandchild.
No one really appreciates the freedom they have until it is taken away from them or if they genuinely comprehend the stories of people who don't have it. None of that "Oh, that's terrible," while wondering what kind of whining fusspot would complain about a lack of freedom. I'm talking about true understanding and empathy.
This posting is probably not really going anywhere as I'm too tired to put together a more concrete discussion. I'm not really sure why I'm suddenly saying all this about freedom out of the blue. Probably because this notion is constantly on my mind in some form or other.
You see, the young woman taking the heat after speaking her own mind - that's me.
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1 comment:
Take heart that while the freedom to speak out is intrinsically your right (no one has ever been struck by lightning for speaking out, ha ha)-- it is the listener who is scarcely ready to receive your views. This can be really scary on their part and irrational reactions come to surface.This speaks volumes about them, not so much about you.
That in itself is a form of oppression. While you find you are not as ready to bear the heat - you might need to express your true feelings in a manner,tone and syntax that is more receptive to the listener -- because it is important you say what you feel but cushion the heat while you still are letting your listener get used to it.
This is not a lecture to say you need to be more tactful. That doesn't arise. This is to allow you to find a temporary way for you to express how you feel while still keeping the peace.Your views are always valid and it doesn't matter what the listener thinks at this point because he/she cannot see what frustrates you.
Keep at it. Little by little. On some days, it won't work. reassure your listener but stay true to yourself and if you are not understood,take heart that you still are doing the best for yourself at any given moment of your life.They may not approve but you know what works for you because you've tried different ways in your life.
The heat you get may seem to take away your freedom to speak out, but you know something -- you still have it.Let time show you how to assert it in a stronger way.It'll happen.Don't lose hope.The frustration is valid and always will come back - but it should not stop you from being the person you are.Time will show you how to work around this.Sorry to have rambled.
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