What does freedom look like?
Sean
We can look up a definition to consider what Freedom means, for example :
Main Entry: free�dom
Pronunciation: \'fre-d?m\
Function: noun
Date: before 12th century
1 : the quality or state of being free: as a : the absence of necessity,
coercion, or constraint in choice or action b : liberation from slavery or
restraint or from the power of another
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom ---
Yet, what does Freedom actually look like, when it is present?
'In the name of freedom', is the mantra, the standard by which we
bare arms. We claim to defend liberty, to fight to free others
from tyranny, but what actually is freedom?
What does freedom look like? Has it a single objective form, an
unquestionable source, or is it just an arbitrary label, one
whose meaning changes from one generation to the next?
The same word, the same thought, but with no specific meaning?
As the ill defined, it would be based on what we can point to,
or what we observed, or what we understood of the enslaved.
So what does it mean now to speak of freedom?
Freedom of thought? Freedom of expression? Freedom of movement,
a leisurely right to come and go as you please? Freedom to shout
and not be stomped on?
Is there an ultimate expression of freedom at the core of our
being, from which we derive all other sense? A freedom to do,
meaning, also a freedom to not do, if we so please.
What does freedom look like, set against a culture of obscured
functions and unquestioned conformity?
Etznab
One time I was amazed to see a connection between free and
friend. So I just checked an etymology link, and for freedom it
said to see the word free.
In the definition I found the words "The primary sense seems to
have been "beloved, friend, to love;" [see second page entry]
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=free&searchmode=none
Now look at the word friend. It begins with:
O.E. freond, prp. of freogan "to love, to favor," from P.Gmc.
*frijojanan "to love"
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=friend&searchmode=none
I like to look at word history, in part, to see how the meanings
today compare to the time of their origins.
What does freedom look like?
What does a friend look like?
Hmm... I wonder if there were lots of slaves in the time this
word was born. Maybe serfs working the land. Were those
people called "friends" the ones that "freed" you? One that
allowed you "freedom"? I don't know, but just guessing.
The word - in some languages - seems to include children
especially (IMO). Generally speaking I think children make
friends and are a lot more free than most adults. Just look
at the actions of young children (not the spoiled ones, or
those having a bad day) and see how much more free they
are in their actions. I see this at church all the time. Most
of the younger folk are not bound to obey the social norms
adopted by most adults. They are free to act in ways that
an adult might only dream of. Not to mention the physical
agility, the energy & better health most younger folk have
compared to the aged.
Etznab
Etznab
Not sure if this is what you were looking for, but what the heck.
Or, should I say neck? [see eighth paragraph on link]
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[....]
A curious aspect of this word is that Romans used liberi (plural)
to mean "children." The French linguist Émile Benveniste explains
this on the basis of a Roman marriage formula, which gave the
procreation of more free persons as the purpose of marriage ("to
obtain free [beings]"). Such children would be free as members
of a class or community of free persons (as opposed to slaves).
[....]
Turning to our Germanic (Old English) words, "free" and "freedom,"
we find their source in Indo-European *priyos, meaning "dear" or
"one’s own." Cognate (kin) words include Sanskrit priyas and
Persian (Avestan) fryo, both meaning "dear," Sanskrit prináti,
"pleases," and Slavic prijatel, "friend." By the time we reach the
Celtic and Germanic tongues, we find ourselves on home-ground
with Welsh rhyyd, "free," and in Germanic – Gothic frijon, "to love,"
freis, "free," and freihals, "freedom." Old English freo and feols
answer to the last two Gothic terms.
[....]
http://www.lewrockwell.com/stromberg/stromberg14.html
Etznab
Sean
That's all amazing, thx mate. ;)
"Etznab" <etz...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:cba2d43c-dd52-40b2...@l13g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
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[....]
to mean "children." The French linguist �mile Benveniste explains
this on the basis of a Roman marriage formula, which gave the
procreation of more free persons as the purpose of marriage ("to
obtain free [beings]"). Such children would be free as members
of a class or community of free persons (as opposed to slaves).
[....]
Turning to our Germanic (Old English) words, "free" and "freedom,"
we find their source in Indo-European *priyos, meaning "dear" or
"one�s own." Cognate (kin) words include Sanskrit priyas and
Persian (Avestan) fryo, both meaning "dear," Sanskrit prin�ti,