WHAT IS TRUE FREEDOM?

Posted by Unknown On Sunday, July 18, 2010 14 comments
I posted the following poem in both my blogs ages ago and am reposting it to challenge us to think about the poem in the context of our country's political landscape. Change is not easy but change we must and it has to begin with each one of us. We may be free but are we really free? Please leave a comment to share your thoughts. Thanks! Have a lovely evening.

________________________________________________________

WHAT IS TRUE FREEDOM?

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before a crowd
is to risk being called naive.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair, and to try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because
the greatest risk in life
is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing,
is nothing, and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot
learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.
Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave.
He has forfeited his freedom.

Only the person who risks is truly free.


Author Unknown

CLICK HERE for Cliff Richard's SING A SONG OF FREEDOM.

So, are we really free? Are we enjoying true freedom? Do share your comments...I would love to hear from you. Thanks :-).

Labels:

14 comments to WHAT IS TRUE FREEDOM?

  1. says:
    July 18, 2010 at 9:40 PM

    Anonymous "Chained by things that are certain, he is a slave.
    He has forfeited his freedom."

    Simple question,yet no easy answer.
    But are we not by today's living, being chained by things that are certain?

    I believe no individual can lay claim to not being chained one way or the other.

  1. says:
    July 18, 2010 at 10:11 PM

    Unknown Dear Anon @ 9.40am

    Yes, you are right. No one can be fully free. In one way to another, we are inextricably chained be it to our hangups, disappointments, hurts, the past, our fears, our unbridled tongue and so many other areas...

    Yet, we should try our best to find release to enjoy as much freedom as we can in a responsible and accountable manner.

    Take care and may you have a blessed week ahead.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Do keep in touch.

    Best wishes

  1. says:
    July 18, 2010 at 11:34 PM

    tupingera Through inaction comes action, through denial comes affirmation.

    Only an intelligence that is awake can be aware of freedom from fear of the unknown, freedom from vanity, freedom from hate, freedom from greed, freedom from lust for power, etc.. An intelligence is only awake when it is in the silent, inaction and denial mode.

    One is deemed to be a nothing if one doesn't own anything or leads a solitary life. One chooses not to own any asset or property to be free from power that comes with ownership. One chooses to live alone (though never lonely) to be free from being dependent upon the approval or acceptance of others.

    The irony is that when true, total freedom is achieved, one realizes that one doesn't have a choice but to live a virtuous life.

    Fiat Sapienta Virtus: actualize your humanity through intelligence or be a human through GODLINESS.

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 2:11 AM

    Captain Obvious Dear masterwordsmith,

    'We may be free but are we really free?' Ya la... why won't * leave us alone? (* = People close to power in malaysia)

    Cheers!

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 2:38 AM

    Unknown Dear tupingera

    Many thanks for your thought-provoking and philosophical comment that reminds me how life can be an irony at times.

    Far too often, we may not be in touch with our inner selves to our undoing for it means that we have not been awakened from within.

    In making choices for the good in life, it certainly drives us to the path of righteousness and there, as you rightly pointed out, we may be trapped again - this time to lead a virtuous life.

    Yet, in doing so, we draw ourselves closer to God, this time via godliness.

    You have really put much careful thought into the poem as can be seen by the beauty and depth of your comment.

    Thank you so much for sharing and for illuminating our minds. Take care and may the Almighty bless you and yours always.

    Salam

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 2:39 AM

    Unknown Dear Captain Obvious,

    If only we could really be free of them - what a wonderful world it would be.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Cheers!

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 9:28 AM

    Wan Sharif I like /love the part
    "Only the person who risks is truly free."
    As a person who has been involved in taking big risks (sometimes up to USD 20 million at one go) for +30 years of my working life.. I will love to agree to that.

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 11:39 AM

    Anonymous For me, true freedom is when I can still perform miracles until the day I die without resorting to viagra. kakakakakaka!!!

    Okay, okay, in the ontext of our country's political landscape...

    True freedom is the day when ALL our Malay brothers say, "Fuck the Ketuanan Melayu bullshit!"

    StraightTalking

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 6:39 PM

    Be Ing True freedom seems to be a desirable thing.

    But do we really want true freedom?

    Isn't true freedom truly scary?

    After being caged in the comfort of prison for so long, it is really scary to stretch the wings to fly.

    Even when the door of the cage is opened, there is this deep anxiety - can I still fly? Won't I drop dead the moment I walk out of this prison?

    Many desire freedom, but more fear of freedom.

    Freedom means self responsibility which not many want to take risk. They seek someone, some father-figure or mother-figure to take the risk.

    It is a risk to be your true self.Speak not of true freedom if you are scared to want to be your true self.

    An authentic self is a self with dignity. The aelf is not a begging bowl. It is not a psychological cripple. Neither does it cripple others. In fact, by freeing others of the chains of slavery at the same time, does it really free itself. It then touches true freedom.

    I am not saying that we should do away with social safety net. We should and we must. But, don't forgo your natural ability to fly. This is what I want to say.

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 9:08 PM

    Unknown Dear Saudara Wan Sharif

    Many thanks for your input. I am so glad this post jives with your experience. Take care and do keep in touch.

    Salam

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 9:09 PM

    Unknown Dear StraightTalking

    First you make me laugh so much....then while laughing, I read your second part of your comment and was *stunned*.

    Classic finish!

    Thanks, pal. You are really something!

    Cheers

  1. says:
    July 19, 2010 at 9:11 PM

    Unknown Dear Be Ing

    That is truly a very marvellous comment that you have shared - so moving, poignant, touching and sensitive. Thank you very very much.

    You have take the trouble to explore the different facets of freedom in such a sincere and yet classy manner that oozes with a unique personal touch.

    My deepest appreciation to you for gracing my blog with this beautiful response. Thank you for making us think far and deep.

    May God bless you and yours always. Take care and do keep in touch.

    Cheers

  1. says:
    July 20, 2010 at 11:42 AM

    Anonymous Aha, this one is almost like infinity to some. The scope is so....ooo wide as "freedom" to each person is in different form. Some wants freedom from guilt,
    others want freedom from fears, addictions, bondages, bad habits such as smoking, gambling,drinking etc.

    One man's meat is another man poison. Our needs are entirely different and same goes for freedom. But the common freedom for all Malaysians,.... free from the clutches of the evil doers.

    Free of the ketuanan bondages for over 53 years. Free from the manipulative spirits of doom that deem others as slave and they as the rightful lords of the land. Let us vote them to lala land and let them lord over all those creepy-crawly.

    True freedom to me is when I am able to value this journey on earth as a pilgrim in preparing for an abode of permanence. For I am just passing through this world for a better place prepared for me.

    Let us count our blessings one by one and be His servant to sets the captives free. Have freedom to know Him and to be called sons and daughters of God.
    ~ahoo~

  1. says:
    July 20, 2010 at 10:34 PM

    Unknown Dear ahoo

    Indeed freedom is a relative concept and different people regard it differently. Thanks for identifying the greatest need for freedom for Malaysians - to be free from the grip of evildoers.

    Let's pray that the day will come when our country is set free indeed. Take care and have a lovely evening.

    Shalom

Post a Comment

Related Posts with Thumbnails
.