Got in a discussion today online (yeah I know arguing online is one step below useless) about freedom. I see freedom as being able to make choices without other people telling you how to choose. Be it choosing what to eat for lunch, or choosing who to vote for. The thing most people lose track of is that with your choice comes the consequences of making it.
If you decide to have the super sized fast food meal that is your choice, but it is also your responsibility to deal with the extra calories. Want to drive a large SUV go for it, just don't whine to me about having to fill up the gas tank. Choose to break the law, don't cry about being punished. This is the burden of free will.
Alot of choices don't have a happy ending either way that is chosen, I was told that "That's not fair.". Unfortunately that is life, fairness is an illusion. There will always be someone that has a leg up on you, that's a fact. You can either worry about fairness, or you can get on with life. There are very few things more satisfying then leaving people in the dust who started ahead of you.
Fair is what losers cry about when the winner is leaving with the prize.
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There is a wonderful quote by Ben Franklin about liberty. While looking for it, I ran across so amny wonderful quotes made throughout history. The points were largely that you aren't free if you have to strip freedoms in order to maintain freedom (stated much better than my early morning brain can today) and... that freedom involves ensuring that everyone has that same freedom.
A lawyer told me that, despite his own views, he believes that one has to place themselves in the position of the minority when making laws etc. We are probably only as free as the smallest minority... it is their freedom we have to protect.
But how does one define a minority? The color of skin, the religion in one's heart, or is each individual their own minority? In that respect is not every person's freedom as important as the person next to them?
A teacher of mine once stated that "One person's rights end where another person's rights begin."
I think the Franklin quote you are looking for is:
They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security. (one of my favorites)
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