Okay, I think it’s hard to talk about freedom without discussing politics. Especially in the times we are currently experiencing. Our country is fighting, WE the people are lashing out at each other, drawing a line between political parties. Freedom and liberty are being ripped apart, redefined, strangled, and masked! Opinions fly everywhere, some of them turning into outright lies about who we are, who I am!
“Liberty is the power to do everything that does not interfere with the rights of others: thus, the exercise of natural rights of every individual has no limits save those that assure to other members of society the enjoyment of the same rights.” Thomas Paine
I know, some will argue that not everyone has the same rights. White “privileged” people are taking away the rights of others. But, I would say that privilege does not pick color. There are plenty of blacks, asians, hispanics, and whites that have taken ahold of many privileges because we live in a country full of advantages, privileges, freedom and hope!
I grew up with an orphan/victim mentality. The people around me had bigger houses, more stuff, an intact family, nicer cars, drug and alcohol free, happy. There were times that my friends got to do certain things that I was left out of because of who they were, and who I was not. True, it wasn’t easy, it didn’t feel good, so I learned to rise above the difficulties, live in the promise of who God made me to be, and walk in freedom. Freedom to speak. Freedom to love. Freedom to reach for anything that is before me. Freedom to leave a mentality of lies, and accept truth.
I’ve come to see that there is nothing I can say without being accused of being ignorant, racist, conservative moron, and so on. It doesn’t make it true. In fact, it is so far from the truth I live that I believe my life of example will prove otherwise. “The truth is, all might be free if they valued freedom, and defended it as they ought.” Samuel Adams
This does not mean that we go around shooting each other, setting up autonomous zones, demanding that women and men kneel and apologize for who God made them to be, or destroying the history of our country. The country, by the way, that has provided shelter for the very ones that strike it down!
Freedom for all, even the unborn children that depend on us to keep them safe. Come on, people! Life is precious. I recently heard the story of Jasmyne Contours. Her mother took drugs throughout her entire pregnancy, threatening the life that was in her womb. But, Jasmyne was a fighter from the very beginning and she survived. She is now an advocate for freedom, for life. Her mother later died and left her to overcome the poverty mentality. The very mentality that some are demanding to keep!
This is Independance weekend. I stand with all those that celebrate our freedom. I stand against socialism. I believe I am exactly who God has created me to be, and to apologize for that is a dishonor to God. I believe that every single life matters. I believe we are here to learn from our history and to move forward. My history does not define me, nor does the history of my country define the present. I want to look at the monuments of individuals that may have made poor choices and see our growth. I want to learn from our rich history, not redefine it.
So, here we are. I’m proud of where I live and all the opportunities it has given me. I am an American, thank God!
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