Is Freedom such a rare thing?

Question

It seems that foreign countries are often generalized as having little, or at least less freedoms as USA. Where does such a perception stem from, and is it even true?
And if it is, give an example of a "Free-er" country...

Why isn't it popular practice in Europe to gloat how free one is compared to the rest of the world?

Answer 1

We have many freedoms other countries don't have. I don't gloat that I am more free. I am proud to be an American, but don't think I am better than anyone else.

Answer 2

We are no more less free than most of Europe. The perception comes from the necessary nationalistic behaviour we exhibit ,which is fostered by much propaganda, not just now but ever since the end of WWII. In order to be top dog and stay top dog, you have to tell the populace over and over that they are the top dog. The cold war solidified this attitude. Measuring free is impossible. The degrees of minutae are too small.
Examples of countries that in my opinion are freer, and this list is subjective since my measurment of free, may be grossly different than yours: Iceland, Greenland, all Nordic/Scandinavian countries, Ireland, but not the whole of the UK, and most of southern Europe, New Zealand etc.
You ask why they do not gloat, simple, why would they have to when they "know" they "are" free? Only a country that was not actually free, would have to constantly chant the slogan.

Answer 3

On the rarity of freedom, do you pay taxes? And when was the last time you had to fight for your own personal home, or your neighbors, against a foreign-government sponsored invader?

We're not "free," but we reap the benefits of a society that is supported by our government instead of being robbed by it, although some would say that politicians and rich companies keep the cost of gas and other commodities artificially high.

We have programs that help the less fortunate, but on the other hand, if you get into one of those programs and try to get out, you're cut off from aid while you still need it. So even our system has room for improvement. But for middle class and upper class income people, freedom is great to enjoy.

Answer 4

Freedom is relative.

About 20 years ago, I was teaching a mixed philosophy class for high-school students of different grades, and many of the students came back year after year to share their experiences.

One of my students spent a year over in the Soviet Union, and wrote letters back, sharing her experiences. We read the letters in class, and discussed social and philosophical differences between the US and Russia.

In one of the letters, this student mentioned how personal relationships in the Soviet Union were much more relaxed and with less social stigma, and there was nothing wrong though of two platonic friends (of any gender combination) walking down the street holding hands, or snuggling on a couch. Such personal behavior was just accepted by the society as personal choice, and nobody there thought anything about it.

She mentioned at the end of the letter how difficult it would be to come back to the US, after finally experiencing what it was like to be truly free.....

Freedom is relative.

Answer 5

There is no TOTAL FREEDOM anywhere or for anyone. Nature herself puts obstacles in our way so that we have to regulate our progress or will.

We can have a form of relative freedom but even that has controls to prevent us from doing something that takes away the freedom of others.

For example, like the Arabs at celebrations, we can fire a gun into the air, but the bullet has to come down and if it strikes a person it may kill. Therefore responsible countries prohibit firing guns into the air, and take away some freedom.

Don't look for total freedom anywhere except in a coffin, as the saying goes, "death shall set you free".

Answer 6

Freedom is a rare thing in the course of history. The idea of freedom of religion was really the big thing that led to the formation of the United States. Your freedom really ends where the other mans nose begins.
The concept of political freedom is closely allied with the concepts of civil liberties and human rights, and the fundamental idea of positive and negative freedom corresponds with the concept of negative and positive rights. Most democratic societies are characterized by various freedoms which are afforded the legal protection of the state. Some of these freedoms include (in alphabetical order):

Freedom of assembly
Freedom of association
Freedom from government sanctioned discrimination
Freedom of education
Freedom of movement (or travel)
Freedom of the press
Freedom of religion (or belief)
Freedom of speech
Freedom of thought (or conscience)

The constitutions of many nations specifically codify some of these freedoms in a bill of rights.

Answer 7

okay think of it this way.....would you be asking that Question you just now asked about freedom? & would you have the net right now if we didnt have freedom? Freedom goes back to when we fought against the british for our land.....if we we'ren't a free country then would people be talking about President Bush the way lots of people do nowadays with how bad a president he is.....i mean we have unlimited speech b/c of our country being free. Is this a good enough answer for you?

Answer 8

I would say most of Europe is "free-er" right now... they can talk about the muslim religion without the government caring... they can call any relatives they may have in Afghanistan without the gov. listening in... they can give a friend in the middle east a loan without it being watched...

and in fact... I would say that there are areas in South America and Africa that are extremely free... as in no one is even going to bother you there... in the middle of nowhere... like amazon tribes... which of course would be the ultimate freedom... not even a government to bother you... they would look at you and think "that's a sad bastard... weighted down with the imperialism of modern life"...

Answer 9

Your exactly right..I've asked that before and get called names for asking that question too.
The fact is here in America I pay 57% of my income to the government. I have to ask for permission to leave this country. It's against the law to have my grass more than 4 1/2 in my town. The gov't taxes gas 64 cents...my retirement is a tax form (410-k)..they watch everything. I even have to ask them for permission to put a shed in my back yard that I pay them rent every 6 months for (called Property tax) that will never end (rent) They can take my home anytime they want. They tell me where my kids must go to school...it goes on and on

Answer 10

To me, freedom comes from within oneself. No country is any more free than any other country. America and Americans put limits on themselves and each other, but that's BS to me. I am as free as I want to be and i leave it as such.