Can you explain the statement "Freedom isn't Free"?

Question

I would interpret it to mean Americans have to be constantly vigilant against the encroaching power of government against individuals, since our founding fathers were quite clear that the greatest threat to our freedom came from our own government.

But today it seems to mean everyone has to march in lock-step behind whatever war the government wants to start, as long as they throw around the word "freedom" enough. That is basically the exact opposite of the original meaning. Which is it?

ddey - OUR government DID start the war in Iraq, which has now killed over 3,000 Americans. Face reality, please.

ruth, King George couldn't have said it better. Now please drink your tea and use lots of stamps!

Michael, I hate to be the voice of reality, but Nazi Germany was a real country. The USSR was a real country. "Radical Islamic terrorists" are a bunch of guys. You don't go to war against a bunch of guys - you enforce your laws.

Wolfie, I do my job, I contribute to my community, I obey the law (just ones anyway), and I pay my taxes that funds the military and their misadventures. So I do a lot for this country. I have a lot of respect for people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for this country.

But I don't believe the military hasn't actually done anything for us since World War II. Korea - waste, Vietnam - Waste, Iraq - waste.

Answer 1

and if you want to make it real interesting, you throw in the words, terror, terrorism, or terrorist and you can say that anyone that doesn't think your war is "right" can be called anti-American or soft on terror or and enemy of the US...

Answer 2

Well you have a good question.

Problem is, you are setting yourself up a false dilema. It is a logical error. You are assuming that it has to be either one or the other. This is not an either/or situation. Life doesn't work that way. It is like saying "I want to loose weight. Should I eat less or should I exercise more?" Naturally you need to do both.

You are absolutely right that Americans have to be vigilant against the encroaching power of government. Government is like fire, a great servant, but if you let it get out of controll it it can destroy everything. When it gets to the point that people are trying to legislate what you eat and how much you should weigh, and they don't even THINK about the idea of individual rights (much less individual responsibility) there is a major problem there.

On the other hand the REALITY is that other nations, including Iran (who is building the atomic bomb) and North Korea (who has an atomic bomb) and the Islamic Terrorists are also a very real threat to our freedom. They hate us and want to destroy us in large part because of our freedom. Look at Iran. The primary reason they hated the Shah was that he was trying to westernize the country, he let women date, wear regular clothes, drive cars and go to school. He let people drink. He let western music and TV into the country. They hated him for that. They hated him for other reasons too, don't get me wrong, but Islam is deeply and fundamentally opposed to freedom as we understand it here in the West. Thomas Jeffeson may have owned a Koran, but what is in Jefferson's writings and Jefferson's Koran are mutually contradictory, (as anyone who has read both could tell you).

Now I don't think the Islamic Radicals are as big a threat to us as the USSR was, I mean there isn't any realistic chance of them of invading or taking over; and that was a possibility with the USSR (just ask the Poles, the Estonians, the Lativians, Bulgarians, Romanians, East Germans, Cubans, Angolans, Vietnamese, etc.)

That being said, these guys ARE a serious danger, as anyone old enough to remember 9-11 should be able to understand. If you are comfortable with that fact or not really isn't very relevant.

Just because you don't like the fact they are at war with us, they hate us, and they want to kill us doesn't make the danger go away.

Just because you don't feel inclined to do what must be done about the fact these people hate us and want to kill us; well that doesn't really change anything. They still hate us and are doing their level (though fortunately fairly incompetent) best to kill us.

So your freedom has to be defended against two groups. The lesser danger is your government. The American government is fairly well muzzled by the Constitution and the Courts. Pelosi may raise taxes or ban trans fats or pull a Jimmy Carter and ruin the economy with idiotic energy legislation, but as bad as she could be she can't do anything that can't be corrected come the next election. The President of Iran thinks that it is his duty as a Moslem to nuke us, and that if he dies in the attempt he will go straight to heaven, and he is weeks away from having a functional nuclear weapon. That's not exactly a trivial danger to your freedom, or your survival.

Answer 3

I would say that your definition of the phrase is mostly accurate and correct, by this I simply mean that it is incomplete. The greatest threat to our freedom comes from our own government there is no doubt about that. But threats from abroad can also threaten our freedom as they did in WW II. So at time the price of freedom must be paid in blood.

What ever the true reasons for this war I hope that it will someday come to an end and we can all welcome our troops home and not spit on them as did happen with our Vietnam vets returning home. For our troops have no choice but to be where they are. Right or Wrong the have a job to do and we owe them our respect even if we don't agree with the cause. I hope you agree. Peace.

Answer 4

Freedom is an unnatural condition. If you put ten persons on a deserted island, within five minutes at least one of the ten will strive to become the leader and gain power over the lot. Once that dominant position is achieved, that "leader" will slowly start exerting personal power and he will be joined by a few others in an effort to "be served" by the others.

For the group to be free, that selfish leader will have to give up his power and the rest will have to work to insure that no member is denied the exercise of his/her personal freedom.

Freedom exists only when people give up some of their Total Freedom for the benefit of the whole.

Total Freedom, ( where everyone can do anything he/she wants at any time and any place) is an Anarchy with no rule, no law, no concern. The best we can expect is to have a form of existence where people work together in the best interests of each other.

Answer 5

Your first statement after your question, right up until you say, "the greatest threat to our freedom came from our own government", is right.
No, freedom is not free, because too many other nations would like to take it away from us, and we constantly need, and do, defend it, against those countries, and terrorists.
No one has to "march in lock-step behind whatever war the government wants to start". They also don't have to join the military. Get it? If one does join the military, in any country, not just USA, they had best walk in "lock-step", or they are a traitor. That is the job they signed up for, and are required to do, as a soldier of the USA.
Not everyone agrees with you, that the Iraq war is wrong. I for one, believe in the justice of it. It shall be fought by LOYAL American soldiers. Bless them.

Answer 6

The freedoms we enjoy came at a big price.. This country was founded by people who knew firsthand what oppression was. It was fought for by common everyday people who knew that if they failed, the chains of slavery and serfdom would strangle the spirit and defeat the souls of good people. They were determined to be free or die trying. Many died but their sacrifice was not in vain.
Your interpretation is correct. We must be eternally vigilant and be wary of anyone that might encroach that precious jewel. And more so today than ever before, because that attack is coming from within as well as from outside our borders. They cloak themselves under the cover as liberals, progressives and other fancy names and use lies (aka propaganda) and misinformation to try to divide us among ourselves (divide and conquer). 'Politically correct' is a veiled insult to our First Amendment. The Second Amendment is our most important. It guarantees the sanctity, validity and preservation of our Rights and Liberties. It is now more important than in any other time in our history.

Answer 7

What it actually means is that our founding fathers all fought for their freedom and many did not live to see it in their lifetimes. Our founding fathers had many things they put in place and one of them WAS a Government "of the people and for the people".

I swore an oath to defend that document and the meaning behind those words written so long ago.

Since that ime, there have been many 'popular wars' and many more unpopular ones. We've seen deserters from the ranks of our nations military ever since a uniform was first invented.

Answer 8

It means that freedom is not something that automatically comes. It must be defended and fought for, but not just on the battlefield. Freedom is not paid for only in blood, sweat, and tears.

Freedom for all requires us to abandon some of our own ideas. It also forces us to actively monitor our government, voting and participating in political debate. An apathetic public is one of the biggest risks to the well-being of the kind of country that the Founding Fathers had in mind.

Answer 9

It means that the freedoms that people in America have do not come without a price. There are other countries that do not like our freedoms and try to fight back with war or events like 9/11. So the freedom that we take so much for granted really isn't free at all.

Answer 10

Whether it's yesterday or today, it still means Americans have to be constantly vigilant against those who seek to destroy us. In World War II it was the threat of fascism. Since the cold war, it has been the threat of communism(and still is even after the fall of the USSR), and for a good 30 years at least, it has been the threat of Islamic fundamentalism. It's not OUR government that starts the wars you THINK they want us to "march lock-step behind."

Answer 11

I think that saying can pertain to both the examples you gave. While the original meaning of "Freedom isn't free" was referring to the fact that a free, soveriegn country must be strong militarily, so as to be able to ward-off foriegn threats to our peace, it is also true that we as a people must ensure that an oppressive government--like our current one--doesn't erode our civil rights, like Bush has done with the passage of the Patriot Act, which has taken away your 4th and 5th Amendment rights. Another phrase that is synonymous with the my first definintion is the ever-popular, "Peace through strenght." And in VA Hospitals around the country, you see the sign that says: "The price of freedom can be seen here."