In my humble opinion… my observation from the very cheap seats…
I’ve always defined freedom as being able to choose where I live within my financial means. Doing with my body as I choose. Watching shows I enjoy, buying products that I like using, and listening to whatever music I wanted. It’s choosing to go worship at a church with like-minded people, or choosing to read a Bible because that’s the book I most enjoy reading. It’s having a conversation without enduring a concern of being arrested.
Freedom is, me doing me, as long as I’m not intruding on you.
Government’s role, ends at my door step, and very much like a vampire, they only have power within my home if I invite them in… as long as I obey their laws, they stay out of my home… right?
What’s freedom to you?
Some of us want government out of our bedrooms, our lifestyle, our bodies, our families, our places of worship. Some of us put our children in private schools, or home school them to maintain government at arms-length from our children. Some of us choose to read books or articles, or support the arts and theater, or hear music that some may not enjoy, and others even find offensive. Some of us choose to give financially to causes that are important to us, or to a community that is hurting, or to individuals in our lives who need a hand-up. Some of us don’t want to be told what to do, as long as we’re not breaking laws.
Or, do you want to be told how best to live? And… who defines “best”?
I want to be clear, I don’t watch Nicholas Cage movies. Not for any other reason than I don’t enjoy the way he acts in movies, or shows, or anything really… I’m just not a fan. So guess what? I don’t watch Nicholas Cage movies. BUT, if my husband wants to watch one… no big deal… I choose to leave the room and let him do him. He’s not doing anything wrong, he likes what he likes, and I like what I like. It’s ok. Do I know any social stance that Nicholas Cage has ever taken and that’s what influences my opinion of his acting? Absolutely not. Know why? He’s an actor. Why the heck do I care what his opinion is? I don’t like his acting. My choice, right?
I don’t like Chick-Fil-A. Not for any other reason besides I don’t like fried chicken sandwiches. So what? I’m a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ. Yes, I know that Chick-Fil-A is owned by a self-proclaimed believer, cool. I still don’t like chicken sandwiches. I could care less about anything that has to do with who owns the business… I still won’t like chicken sandwiches.
Maybe… I just don’t like being told what to do? Why, do I have to only listen to NPR, or Conservative radio? Why can’t I listen to both? Why can’t I listen to 2 Live Crew, Adele, Marc Anthony and ACDC? Who says I got to fit in some box?
All that to say, you’re not the boss of me.
But… what I’m seeing now, and am I the only one?? It feels like I’m the only one. Is that government isn’t coming out and arresting people, but… people are being like shunned and stuff, for crap they think, IF, they shared their thoughts. Have we become the thought police? And honestly, when did we get so much time to do all this? Like, who cares?
For real.
If I don’t agree with someone, I’m a big girl, can’t I just ignore them? Why is that option off the table? Has anyone asked these questions? Like, why are we all ok with concerted efforts to attack people for what they say? Can’t we just choose to not support that business, person, endeavor? And… is it possible that what bothers one person may not necessarily bother the other? And… who gets to say which opinion is “right” or “correct” ? If an opinion, is an opinion, then it is not fact. Opinions, are also not actually pertinent to anything tangible. I’ve been ignoring people that say stupid crap for a really long time. Haven’t you?
People. Come on. What are we doing that we now feel like we need to police one another’s speech? Who ordained us, “the thought-police” and do we really want that job? Are we all 100% certain that everything we’ve ever said, in the entire scope of our lives, would align with the self-appointed, “thought-police”?
I don’t know guys. I’m just very uncomfortable with this group thinking we got going. It’s a little too “comite de defensa” for my liking. {“comite de defensa”, is what people in Cuba were called when they were sympathetic to the “revolution” and they’d out their neighbors to the government if they ever overheard any conversations or witnessed any actions deemed, “counter-revolutionary”. Yes, “counter-revolutionary” is as ambiguous a term as it sounds.}
So, yes… forgive me for sharing this opinion… YOU ARE NOT THE BOSS OF ME.
I’ve never been a fan of a group of people, getting to tell another group of people, what to do.
Because, let’s be very clear, and let’s be honest, the US government is not adjudicating this case, it’s our neighbors… it’s a face-less mob that has made a determination that “they know best”. AND… if you don’t agree… then you are the problem. AND… the thought-police can’t go and arrest you (that would be silly, right) BUT, are we all collectively ignoring that they are getting really good at silencing people?
So… are we ok with this? Is this what we’re allowing now?
Just checking.