The most loaded words: freedom, democracy, human rights… Concepts such as freedom, democracy, human rights etc. are very important and fundamental in politics of mankind. The philosophy behind them is to limit regimes from misusing and abusing the power that they are given to serve the public. When we see freedom, we can classify it further as freedom religion, freedom of thought, freedom of press, freedom of opinion, etc. Kovie Biakolo states freedom, “Freedom, when considered seriously, is a loaded word that conjures passionate emotions from the fundamental values people choose to ascribe to. At the same time, freedom is an ambiguous term; an abstract word that continues to be contested.” We if we need freedom to oppress others that is not freedom. If we refer freedom to doing whatever we want without limitation that is not freedom. If we refer freedom to enjoying suffering of others, that is freedom. So we have to be aware of what we mean when we use the word freedom. And freedom has purpose. Freedom for what and why? To destruct or construct? Freedom to kill others? Freedom to take away freedoms and well being of others? This should be answers before internalizing what people telling us in the name of freedom. Kovie Biakolo says, “We often talk about financial freedom, freedom from poverty, and freedom from fear. And we herald our freedom of speech and of religion. In these contexts, freedom doesn’t exist as the objective; it exists because there is another objective to obtain, and freedom is the means to obtain it.” Let us take religion freedom as an example. If one claims he or she has religious freedom and degrades other’s religion, is he or she practicing religious freedom? Or is he or she is enforcing others to accept or follow his or her by using that right, it is freedom? The four famous Freedom speeches Franklin D. Roosevelt are Freedom of worship, Freedom from want, Freedom from fear and Freedom of speech. When these freedoms are ensure they have goals. When we see freedom of worship the intention is that we have right believe in whatever we prepare and not to be enforced to accept do what we do not believe in. It in fact includes freedom to exercise what we believe. What if we exercise in a way that influence others to accept what they do not believe, it becomes opposite of the very idea itself. If we see freedom want, it refers freedom to get what we want. Let one have freedom to have doro watt for his lunch and go to restaurant. He eats and satisfies himself. Yet he has the obligation to pay for the meal to the restaurant. If he claims he has right to get what he want but do not pay the price, this may become a crime that freedom. So every right is inseparable from the responsible follows. Freedom of speech also follows the same procedure. If one claim he/she has right to freely say what he/she wants, insult someone and gives pain, this contrast the very idea of freedom from fear. If one makes someone fear by using prerogative words, he/she takes against the idea of freedom. So freedom to have equal access, freedom to reasonably criticize (not to attack but to correct), freedom to get what we are allowed according to the modern and customary law of the land, freedom to promote and appreciate our religion without disregarding others religion, freedom to express our opinion in a manners that has respect for dignity of others etc. is what freedom means. There are some who think democracy means doing and being whatever we want. Democracy is all about the power of the people. A democrat citizen believe in the power belongs to the people. Again there are certain principles to exercise that right. One of those principles is participation of the people. People have the right to participate in the affair of the nations. Development is among those affairs of nation. So let us develop our country! God bless Ethiopia and Elsewhere!
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 18:29:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015