I have written a short introduction to the book, "Freedom Is Something to Learn: Perspectives on Freedom by Outstanding Thinkers & Activists, from Aristotle to Emma Goldman". I blog it here:
Do you remember the first time you were free to use a knife as a child without supervision?
In the early stages of your childhood, when you seized a knife, the adults acted reflexively to take it away from you in order to prevent any injury or hurt you might cause to yourself or your siblings and little friends. That is natural.
During the course of life, all normal children learn how to use a knife in a safe manner, without cutting their hands or hurting or threatening others. The time inevitably comes when nobody feels uncomfortable as the child handles the knife to peel an orange properly. When children learn the required skill and morality in handling a knife, nobody questions their acquired right anymore. I do not remember the first time I was free to use a knife either.
Do you remember if you or any other children demonstrated in front of the adults and fought for your freedom to use a knife? Was this freedom ever bestowed on you?
The same is true with other areas of our personal and social life and whatever sort of freedom we have achieved. The same is also true with nations and their freedom. Democracy is also something to learn. In the history of nations, we read about revolutions. People fought and gave their precious blood to gain freedom and democracy. However, the only things they could keep and pass to next generations were those they actually learned during the whole process. Whatever the nations actually learned they applied in their day to day life. Then, their children who were exposed to the free behavior, acquired it in a natural way, in the same way they acquire their native language.
Democracy involves personal and social skills as well as a democratic mentality -- which can be considered as its morality. Until a society has learned democracy, it is of no use to fight for it or even to bestow it on the people. In some developing countries, people revolted and even overthrew long-established monarchies and replaced them with a kind of republic. Nevertheless, that kind of republic is only a modern version of dictatorship, even if it carries the name of democracy. The problem is that the majority of the society have not learned democracy yet. They lack the democratic mentality and skills. They do not treat their family and themselves democratically and they do not even notice it. They complain that their governors do not act democratically but they do not blame themselves for acting in the same way.
Dictatorship has its roots in the mentality of its subjects. No dictator can deprive a nation of the freedom they have adequately learned. Such a nation would have to forget and therefore stop practicing freedom before it is ready to accept and suffer dictatorship. I do not deny the possibility of it, though it is improbable to forget something so valuable if it is fully ascertained.
Like any other kind of education, 'Freedom education' is also a matter of degree. Members of the same society may enjoy different levels of freedom in different aspects of their lives, depending on the levels of education they have had in each field. At home, at school, at work, regarding politics, religion, economy and any other conceivable aspect of life, there are various kinds and levels of freedom: freedom of belief and thought, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of behavior and action. When we learn freedom, we learn our rights and those of others and we will be urged to regard them all. Freedom education leads to a healthier, happier and more successful society.
Freedom is not something to bestow and it is not something to fight for. Freedom is something to learn. Let's learn more of it.
Do you remember the first time you were free to use a knife as a child without supervision?
In the early stages of your childhood, when you seized a knife, the adults acted reflexively to take it away from you in order to prevent any injury or hurt you might cause to yourself or your siblings and little friends. That is natural.
During the course of life, all normal children learn how to use a knife in a safe manner, without cutting their hands or hurting or threatening others. The time inevitably comes when nobody feels uncomfortable as the child handles the knife to peel an orange properly. When children learn the required skill and morality in handling a knife, nobody questions their acquired right anymore. I do not remember the first time I was free to use a knife either.
Do you remember if you or any other children demonstrated in front of the adults and fought for your freedom to use a knife? Was this freedom ever bestowed on you?
The same is true with other areas of our personal and social life and whatever sort of freedom we have achieved. The same is also true with nations and their freedom. Democracy is also something to learn. In the history of nations, we read about revolutions. People fought and gave their precious blood to gain freedom and democracy. However, the only things they could keep and pass to next generations were those they actually learned during the whole process. Whatever the nations actually learned they applied in their day to day life. Then, their children who were exposed to the free behavior, acquired it in a natural way, in the same way they acquire their native language.
Democracy involves personal and social skills as well as a democratic mentality -- which can be considered as its morality. Until a society has learned democracy, it is of no use to fight for it or even to bestow it on the people. In some developing countries, people revolted and even overthrew long-established monarchies and replaced them with a kind of republic. Nevertheless, that kind of republic is only a modern version of dictatorship, even if it carries the name of democracy. The problem is that the majority of the society have not learned democracy yet. They lack the democratic mentality and skills. They do not treat their family and themselves democratically and they do not even notice it. They complain that their governors do not act democratically but they do not blame themselves for acting in the same way.
Dictatorship has its roots in the mentality of its subjects. No dictator can deprive a nation of the freedom they have adequately learned. Such a nation would have to forget and therefore stop practicing freedom before it is ready to accept and suffer dictatorship. I do not deny the possibility of it, though it is improbable to forget something so valuable if it is fully ascertained.
Like any other kind of education, 'Freedom education' is also a matter of degree. Members of the same society may enjoy different levels of freedom in different aspects of their lives, depending on the levels of education they have had in each field. At home, at school, at work, regarding politics, religion, economy and any other conceivable aspect of life, there are various kinds and levels of freedom: freedom of belief and thought, freedom of speech and expression, freedom of behavior and action. When we learn freedom, we learn our rights and those of others and we will be urged to regard them all. Freedom education leads to a healthier, happier and more successful society.
Freedom is not something to bestow and it is not something to fight for. Freedom is something to learn. Let's learn more of it.
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