What Freedom Means To Me

Freedom is hard to define. We all have an idea of what it looks like, but that changes based on each individual. One person might see freedom as doing whatever you want, someone else might see it as not fearing for their life whenever they’re outside. In truth, there isn’t many people in the world who live in total freedom.

I consider myself to be a free man who hasn’t had to worry about their own freedom. I’m a Caucasian male, growing up in an upper working class family, in England and in a quiet spot. I’ve never had to fear anything or feel like I’m not free to do as I please, within the law. So, maybe it is a bit rich of me to talk about freedom, but this platform allows me to share my opinion and that’s what I’m going to do.

Freedom to me is a female whose able to take a walk at night without fearing for her life. Whose able to go to a bar or a club and not worry about where she leaves her drink. Freedom is also someone that doesn’t feel right in the gender they were born in and wish to change without social exclusion. Freedom is someone who doesn’t identify as anything, but what they feel in the moment. Doing that without raised eyebrows and severe judgement is freedom. Freedom is also loving who you want to love without backlash or threats because it’s someone who is of the same gender. The freedom to commit your life to your partner regardless of gender or no gender. Freedom is being able to open up to anyone without fear. Freedom is recognising that your mental health is valid and that support will always be available.

Freedom is also a man, woman and child in a war torn country not fearing for their lives every minute of every day. Freedom is the people of Ukraine not having to face inhumane acts of violence from a neighboring country. Freedom is two countries living harmoniously side by side. Civilians in every country in the world that are currently facing war, bombs and bullets deserve freedom. Being able to live in your home, with your family and not having to flee, is freedom.

Freedom is those who are still being oppressed by regimes designed to weaken minorities. Freedom is equality for all races, genders and non-gendered citizens. No matter where you live, or what you do, you deserve to be free in doing it.

There is so much bad in the world and so many people are suffering. Ukraine is at the front of people’s minds, but there’s an entire globe of people suffering in ways we can’t even begin to comprehend. I don’t believe we’ll ever truly be in a free society. It’s something that, as it stands, is completely unimaginable.

As I touched on earlier, for example, I find it appalling that a woman has to protect herself or simply avoid walking the streets at night. Imagine a society in which an entire gender has to live in fear of what lurks around at night. Not just a single location, but globally.

Then imagine a society which involves global superpowers routinely killing civilians in drone strikes, but never hearing about it on the news. Imagine living in a society that has governments who will still kill their own because of some extremely outdated opinions. Someone in love with their own gender shouldn’t result in death.

I'm sure I'll publish this and think of many other walks of life that should be recognised in the pursuit of absolute freedom. Just because you can't see it on here doesn't mean I don't think of it. The question remains, can we do more to ensure freedom for all? Absolutely we can. But, until those who actively destroy the opportunity for such are taken out of power, we'll just go round in circles. Having said that, people need help right now and we need to come together to help those. Ukraine can't be ignored. Syria can't be ignored. China can't be ignored. Saudi Arabia can't be ignored. Afghanistan can't be ignored. The list goes on.