Freedom or Free for All?

Is THIS “Freedom” or is it a “Free for All”?

 

Standing in line at the grocery today, I faced the boredom of waiting.  I don’t have money for “impulse buys” at the cash register--such as gum, key chains, Pez dispensers or stress balls so I looked at the magazines which are mostly about what’s on the cover—crap.  Today’s news was about things like “Oprah is GAY” and Cher’s son/daughter has issues.  Really?  I mean he was a she who went from Chasity to Chaz or something like that.  And let’s not forget who doesn’t look good in a swimsuit.  That is ALWAYS news worthy.

You Choose

I had to ask the man behind me, “So, what do you think about this (showing him the magazine).  Is this freedom?”  He responded, “I don’t get involved.”  I said, “You don’t get involved?  Do you have kids?  Do you want our youth to be MORE confused?  Is this about being a “Christian” nation?”  At this point, I was waving the “crap” in the air.  He had no answer other than, “as long as it isn’t hurting anyone else.”  I told him, “It IS hurting someone—it’s hurting the majority of the people.  We are talking about SOCIETY and what is GOOD and MORALLY RIGHT!”  He shrugged his shoulders and said, “I guess when you look at it that way….”  I showed him my right hand—“freedom.”  Then showed him my left, “free for all.”  "You choose."

Pickles, Lettuce, Don’t Forget Us…

I was already fired up before the grocery.  I had just been in in the doctor’s office where the news was on.  A person who worked there was gabbing about the McDonald’s Story—how Ronald was a grown up and clown should NOT be their spokesperson.  Oh, not to mention there is too much fat in their food and it’s contributing to obesity.  I told him to back off.  Some people can’t afford to eat anywhere else.  He said, “It’s America.  They need to get jobs—pick up a shovel...eat at Subway--it has less fat.”  He went on to inform me of how iceberg lettuce, pickles, onions, and a few lame tomatoes have nutritional value.  My response--those are on the hamburger too and much cheaper.  Not to mention, they have no nutritional value to speak of...

So what is FREEDOM?

This definition compares/contrasts FREEDOM with LIBERTY.  It’s good.  Read it a few times.    “Freedoms end when they encounter a contrary freedom of another person. You are free to smoke, until you encounter my freedom not to inhale your smoke. Liberty lacks that distinction: my liberty never contradicts or limits yours (Paul V. Hartman on "Freedom" and "Liberty" are Not the Same Thing (http://www.naciente.com/essay36.htm).

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not advocating censorship.  I’m just looking behind the smoke screen and seeing how easily Americans are entertained, side tracked and uninvolved in their country while the “elected” sink our ship—the great American ship.  They’ve (politicians and special interest groups) done an OUTSTANDING job —RIGHT?  Why?  Because WE let them do whatever floats THEIR BOAT.  And their boat has life rafts, paddles, fall out shelters, food, booze, parties and “impulse buys.” 

Bad Boys, Bad Boys…

What you gonna do when they come for you?  If you are watching that, you have too much time on your hands.  Please America.  WAKE UP.  Participate in your country.  Have a voice.  Ask questions.  Do something good—even if it’s buying a hungry person a Big Mac.