Independence Day 2020
Redefining Freedom
I was just a kid when America celebrated its 200th anniversary in 1976. I still remember the pride of “the land of the free and the home of the brave”. Those fireworks are gone. Today’s 4th of July may be the most confusing ever. We vaguely recall that we are celebrating freedom. But what is freedom? Perhaps we should agree first on what freedom is not.
Freedom Is not the Right to be Selfish
For decades we were told that individualism is the banner of The American Way Of Life. We are now witnessing the disastrous consequences of this fallacy. COVID-19 is teaching us that freedom is not about the right to bear arms, but rather about the obligation to wear masks. As Damon Linker wrote recently, many Americans refuse to think in terms of the social whole — of what’s best for the community, of the common or public good. Each of us thinks we know what is best for ourselves.
Freedom Is not the Right to Hate
A recent analysis begins with “The United States is a nation at war with itself: its beliefs, its ideals, its promise of liberty and justice. The images of American streets in flames (following the death of George Floyd) reveal the depths of dangerous fault lines of race, identity, history and politics that pit American against American. It is a land of tribes that has shattered any pretense of civic unity.”
If America wants to become the United States and the worthy leader of the free world once again, then we must revisit our values. We cannot exist in hatred. Life, liberty and happiness cannot be achieved individually and at the expense of others. Justice and freedom must come together with love.
A Declaration of Interdependence
In A call for a Declaration of Interdependence, Dr. Richard Margolies writes: “Surviving in our interconnected world of technology, trade, finance, travel, warfare, climate change, amid pandemics of viruses, profound economic inequality, and racial injustice requires affirming our human and structural interdependencies.” As Molly Roberts writes, “The problem is everything is connected, [but] despite all that, we are not connected enough.” Dr. Margolies suggests that such a Declaration of Interdependence should include Personal, Economic, Government, international and human-nature interdependencies.
He adds: “One does not have to be a psychologist as I am, to understand that happiness comes largely from connections in family, friendship, intimate relationships, neighborhoods, spiritual communities, and work. Few people can be happy alone. Being productively connected forms identity and personhood, and builds resilience and emotional strength. Human connection is essential for a meaningful life and the full potential of love.”
The Freedom to Get Out of Myself
We have one prison, one common enemy — our own ego. The belief that I alone matter, and everything around me, other people, the entire universe, is here to serve me. This distorted perspective is in contradiction to how the whole of nature operates — as an integrated system of interconnected parts. And it is this contradiction that causes all the suffering we see in the world.
We can be free only if we get out of ourselves and connect with others. Changing our own programming may seem as a difficult task. But if we can successfully quit smoking or drinking using group work, social influence and support from our environment, then we can use the same means to quit the bad habits of “egoing” and separation. We just need to realize how crucial and beneficial this is, and get started. In our unity we will discover real fireworks!
Happy Interdependence Day!
“Freedom is nothing but a chance to be better.” Albert Camus
