What exactly is freedom? For me Freedom means I have the right to make my own decisions regarding myself and those who depend on me. I have the right to choose to live simply (without calling it "green") and sleeping with a gun under my pillow if I want to... (not recommended instead keep it on the nightstand).
As a compassionate person I should get to chose who and how I will help individuals who are in need. It is not the Governments job to take care of everyone carte blanch. Don't get me wrong there are those who truly need a helping hand every now and then but there are those who suck the system dry because they can. Those are the ones who need to be shaken up a bit because I am getting tired of going to work everyday to provide the taxes that allow them to sleep till noon and watch Oprah in the afternoon.
Also if I want to drive a gas guzzling large truck I shouldn't be penalized with additional taxes to do so. I pay the taxes on the fuel I use. Why should I have to pay additional registration fees just because it is bigger than your Prius?
Just some thoughts to get us started....tell me what you think.
Freedom is throwing out all the dims nov.....wooooot
Hiya Mrs Solar :)
Quote from: zip on September 25, 2010, 09:00:29 AM
Freedom is throwing out all the dims nov.....wooooot
Hiya Mrs Solar :)
Glad to see you here.... And yes I would like to lighten the Dims load in Nov...or is that unload the Dims? ;) ;)
I agree with ST, freedom is having the ability to make an honest living without any obstacles.
But this forum is a representative of one of our very most important freedoms, the ability to speak our minds, the right to say anything you want, without having to worry about the sensibilities of others.
I'm not saying to purposely insult someone, that is a moral issue, but having the right to say what you want without someone deleting your words.
I agree with Solars Toy and have a few more to add. To me, freedom is also my right to voice my opinion and say what I truly feel without fear of any repercussions, to attend the church that I want to attend and worship God without fear, to be able to own a gun and buy ammunition without fear of losing that right, to read any book or newspaper of my choice without fear of it being burnt or the government controlling it, and being able to vote, in a fair and open election, for the person that I feel will represent my views, opinions and rights. There are many other freedoms that we have, that we take for granted and don't even think of on a daily basis. The fear of losing any of these, should make us all sit back and take a good look at what we truly have!
Quote from: dellee10 on September 25, 2010, 09:30:21 AM
I agree with Solars Toy and have a few more to add. To me, freedom is also my right to voice my opinion and say what I truly feel without fear of any repercussions, to attend the church that I want to attend and worship God without fear, to be able to own a gun and buy ammunition without fear of losing that right, to read any book or newspaper of my choice without fear of it being burnt or the government controlling it, and being able to vote, in a fair and open election, for the person that I feel will represent my views, opinions and rights. There are many other freedoms that we have, that we take for granted and don't even think of on a daily basis. The fear of losing any of these, should make us all sit back and take a good look at what we truly have!
Well said D. You have put to words what many of us think and worry about on a daily basis. What freedoms are we letting slip through our fingers.... :'(
Greetings all, Freedom is the second greatest gift given to man by God Almighty. Freedom is trusting in ourselves to govern not some foolish elite in the nations capitol to tell us how to live. Freedom is being able to speak your mind and understanding the rest of us can look at you and say "well that was stupid", we have the right to eat what we want and do what we want as long as we do it to not hurt others. We have the right to make as much as we want and KEEP it. Charity is giving not having it taken by some official in washington and a portion being kept there while they spread the rest around.
Quote from: FreedomsMarch on September 25, 2010, 10:09:50 AM
Greetings all, Freedom is the second greatest gift given to man by God Almighty. Freedom is trusting in ourselves to govern not some foolish elite in the nations capitol to tell us how to live. Freedom is being able to speak your mind and understanding the rest of us can look at you and say "well that was stupid", we have the right to eat what we want and do what we want as long as we do it to not hurt others. We have the right to make as much as we want and KEEP it. Charity is giving not having it taken by some official in washington and a portion being kept there while they spread the rest around.
Good points....I have right to eat what I want? Have you spoken to Solar about this? ;D ;D
Really though you have made some great observations. I too agree freedom is a gift from God and if I chose to do something stupid (which never happens ;)) that too is my choice. Looking forward to more of your great insights.
Quote from: FreedomsMarch on September 25, 2010, 10:09:50 AM
Greetings all, Freedom is the second greatest gift given to man by God Almighty. Freedom is trusting in ourselves to govern not some foolish elite in the nations capitol to tell us how to live. Freedom is being able to speak your mind and understanding the rest of us can look at you and say "well that was stupid", we have the right to eat what we want and do what we want as long as we do it to not hurt others. We have the right to make as much as we want and KEEP it. Charity is giving not having it taken by some official in washington and a portion being kept there while they spread the rest around.
Excellent !!!!!!!!!!!
Quote from: dellee10 on September 25, 2010, 09:30:21 AM
I agree with Solars Toy and have a few more to add. To me, freedom is also my right to voice my opinion and say what I truly feel without fear of any repercussions, to attend the church that I want to attend and worship God without fear, to be able to own a gun and buy ammunition without fear of losing that right, to read any book or newspaper of my choice without fear of it being burnt or the government controlling it, and being able to vote, in a fair and open election, for the person that I feel will represent my views, opinions and rights. There are many other freedoms that we have, that we take for granted and don't even think of on a daily basis. The fear of losing any of these, should make us all sit back and take a good look at what we truly have!
Im a simple kind of guy D..Freedom to me is being able to smack a lib at will for babbling nonesense....Freedom is pulling the lever and helping to rid my country of communists and socialists. Freedom is keeping what I worked for and doing whatever good I want to do being my choice....
Zip, there's nothing wrong with keeping it simple....I use the KISS principle in my daily life! :)
With all the high powered thinking going on here, this Old Curmudgeon is out of his depth.
First, Taxed, thanks for the invite. Secondly, Solar and Solar's Toy, it good to 'see' you.
Thirdly, I've seen it written that freedom is restraint of government. I believe that to be a truism.
Quote from: Shooterman on September 25, 2010, 07:19:58 PM
With all the high powered thinking going on here, this Old Curmudgeon is out of his depth.
First, Taxed, thanks for the invite. Secondly, Solar and Solar's Toy, it good to 'see' you.
Thirdly, I've seen it written that freedom is restraint of government. I believe that to be a truism.
I agree - it is time to restrain the government. :) :) Glad to see you here too.
Quote from: Shooterman on September 25, 2010, 07:19:58 PM
With all the high powered thinking going on here, this Old Curmudgeon is out of his depth.
First, Taxed, thanks for the invite. Secondly, Solar and Solar's Toy, it good to 'see' you.
Thirdly, I've seen it written that freedom is restraint of government. I believe that to be a truism.
Glad you could make it Shooter.
You'll need to inform Pepe, I can even start a financial forum, and he can moderate it if he wants.
Seriously, ask him to come on over, and it's his.
Quote from: Solar on September 25, 2010, 07:38:49 PM
Quote from: Shooterman on September 25, 2010, 07:19:58 PM
With all the high powered thinking going on here, this Old Curmudgeon is out of his depth.
First, Taxed, thanks for the invite. Secondly, Solar and Solar's Toy, it good to 'see' you.
Thirdly, I've seen it written that freedom is restraint of government. I believe that to be a truism.
Glad you could make it Shooter.
You'll need to inform Pepe, I can even start a financial forum, and he can moderate it if he wants.
Seriously, ask him to come on over, and it's his.
Will do, Solar.
At the root of the Germanic word "freedom" is the foundational concept of "love." That being the case, then "freedom" is not some abstract right with which some autonomous and alienated individual is outfitted, but has its essence in a real relationship with others: spouse, friend, relative, comrade in battle.
In this context, freedom, as I cherish and understand it, is being free from the primeval lusts, whims, desires and compulsions of the ego-centered and narcissistic individual so that I am FREE to fulfill my responsibility to God, to my family, to my kith, to my church and to my local community. Being free of primeval barbarism is being a civilized person who has acquired, internalized and who lives out the great virtues: the cardinal virtues, the capital virtues and ultimately the theological virtues, the highest of these latter according to St. Paul is love, which, ironically brings us right back to the root meaning of the Germanic word "freedom." Becoming a free man is the work of a lifetime. We are born barbarians. Some of us, though we would live a hundred years, remain barbarians. Yet, there are those who quest for this freedom and in the quest with its hard knocks and failures actually begin to achieve it, though in this life, it be a mere foretaste or a look through the glass dimly.
I am on this quest. Some days, I am more like a barbarian than a free man. On other days, however, I remember and live out my duties, responsibilities and obligations to my wife, to my children, to my grandchild, to my yet living ninety-three-year-old mother, to my church, to my kith and to my community. At the end of such a day, I sense a free man emerging.
My enemy is any entity, including the state, which would interfere with this process of becoming a free man!
Freedom to me has taken on many different meanings and adapted over the years. But to sum up in a nutshell, freedom to me means less and less responsibility or obligations to those outside of Family and close friends.
Billy