It is usually conceived that freedom in modern times is almost something guaranteed, the times of slavery and imperialism are supposedly gone. No matter the colour, the ethnic, the creed, people are born free and live free. Of course this is nothing but a romantic idea, that exists solely in the mind of the naive individual. There are many forms of enslavement; from the african kid picking diamonds in the depths of dangerous caves, up to the individual that believes himself to be free, but that has actually surrendered his freedom to someone else. And not, this is not one of those articles in which I'm going to attack the capitalist or consumerism style of living, at least not from this point of view. Such articles abound on the internet, and so what's the point of writing yet one more of those? Not going to attack wallstreet, work from 8 to 5, bla bla, etc. That's not what it is about.
This is merely a reflection on what exactly is freedom. Who is really free? I guess that not so many people. It seems almost as part of human nature to hate freedom, to be influential, and to surrender to someone else. Being strong, keeping your own point of view even though it might contradict what is established can be quite tough. It's not about breaking the rules, of entering into some kind of immoral way of acting. But simply of being yourself, and trusting yourself. Sounds easy but is very difficult to practice. From school we're taught to surrender to the will of the master. Which isn't particulary wrong at all, but that is certanly the first step towards finishing your freedom.
I'm not speaking about not studying, or nor listening to the professor. Just that the whole archetype should be re-evaluated. Teacher is who teaches us what a tool is, and the different ways to use it. But not that order us to use it in a specific way. So on and so forth, the kid grows up and will eventually give his freedom away. Some will to the boss, other to the spiritual leader, family doctor, president, even to his own wife/her own husband. That's simply how it is.
But why is this happening? why has it happened for uncountable centuries? Being free while charged with a heavy dose of thinking will always lead you towards a moral debate. What is right and what is wrong? The human is afraid of breaking a line. Let's not forget that the line between genius and madness is very thin. human is good by nature, but is very easily corrupted. If the individual sees his neighbour breaking the line, he'll think "what is stopping me from doing so?" there will even come the point that through mental and material crisis this inner question will become more, and more relevant, very strong, even can become a torture. From this is born a distorsion that doesn't let live in peace. Human is the only species that because of being so rational, can go to the extreme of killing himself due to an inner conflict.
Now, let's speak about the modern world. A global society in which most of the people have perpetual and consistent access to news. Both through the internet, as also offline on the tv, news papers, radio, etc. This is a planet in which the news are not what the followers do, but what the breakers do. This category of "breaker" can be even divided into those that do so with good intentions, and those that do so with bad ones. As for the former, we have all these goverment leakers across the world denouncing precisley the violation to human rights, to freedom, what is wrong with the world. They break for denouncing. Then we have those that violate for their self good, not caring if they harm others on the process. Of these there are also countless individuals.
No matter if good or bad intentions, they are all breakers... they are all over the news because they are the ones that break the program. When have you seen news of a guy that follows a rigid schedule and follows the law? Well never.. that's not news, and that is simply boring. Just as is fun to see someone slip after stepping on a banana shell, it is far more entertaining to read about who stole a bank, who put a bomb, than Jimmy from your neighborhoud. This is the generation of entertainment, where just as in the tv and cinema is nice to see criminals, it is equally nice seeing them on real life (sure, as long as it doesn't concern you, or your loved ones)
With such "tempations" lying on the other corner, how can the individual remain rightful even under the worst circunstances? What is rightful anyway? Ok to resume, this is where anxiety and stress are born. The human has to lead with the inner conflict between his belief, compassion, and what in the material world is conceived as the survival of the fittest. Between all these words, somewhere an identity lies, and under such mask called identity, a human soul lies.
To solve all those conflicts by your own, demands you to start an inner journey which will take you with to the deepest shadows, to the valley of inner death. "Ain't nobody got time for that" The show must go on, you must keep moving.. there's a world out there that won't stop simply because the kid's getting emotional, even more, if you have a family then there's yet more reasons for not stopping. All this happens with the free man. The free man unless he lives somewhere in the mountains apart from society, will sooner or later confront the XXI century Mara; the consumption of good and evil in the pool of material wealth. That's why individuals such as Edward Bernays conceived democracy as they did, as a facade for consumerism. Because the individual cannot be nothing more than a consumerist. At least, that's what people in charge of most companies and goverments believe. It has always been so.
Before there was the Church, the Divine right justifying the Monarchy. They "safely" represented the will of the people. It was God given's right that the Pope and the King rule over mankind Most people were happy with this for a long while. What better way and what beter place to keep your freedom that under the heavenly locks of the Sacred Church? What better psychologist, doctor, than God himself? Such concept is valuable and acceptable under the right eye, nonetheless, it got corrupted and became an excuse for tyranny against the people.
Such same people, those same masses of peasants turned merchants became demanding. Arrived to the conclusion that such Divine right was nothing more than bollocks, and they destroyed it. For a while the Secularism became the bread of the day, until such bread ended up being toxic and leading people to two world wars, and many other conflicts in the last two centuries. Where there's no God there's only the law imposed by man. And who better to break man's law than man himself? Chaos invaded humanity... the individual discovered that his tower of Babel had failed. That under the flag of democracy man had turned against each other. The solution, a swift change of paradigm. Mammon shall be the new god. Man shall aspire, live and die for money. However, it failed miserably too.
Human has gone back to basics. Freedom is for the tough, you need time and full dedication to be able to grasp, yet alone enjoy such gift. The legal (I include alcohol) and illegal drugs are at the order of the day. We are going back to the point that people simply want to be told how to live their lives, afterall that's the easiest path. We still have a Pope, monarchs spreading their lineage, but we also have the new leaders, the doctors, the gurus the new entertainment stars. The hall of leaders has been expanded. A fan is nothing more than a fervant believer. As a mere mortal that I am I can only state from the bottom of my heart that is very fortunate, and a privilige if you find someone that turns to influence you for good. Whether teacher, friend, spouse, doctor, priest etc. Unfortunately freedom is very valuable, and there will always be a wolf disguised as sheep ready to enjoy what is yours, and lead to manipulation.
A man can only grow up when he grabs the reins of his life. Most of humans, prefer to remain in a long state of childhood without making this step, not
taking the first swim without floaties.
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