Freedom

The western world, so much promise for us, and yet so much disappointment. At the founding of the western world a Dream was dreamed. That dream, that hope, birthed into existence by all the immigrants looking for a better life. Our ancestors left their countries for differing reasons, some to escape persecution or death, some for the promise of adventure, some for gold, but most so they could live free.

Freedom, the inherent dream of all living beings. If you put a life in a cage no matter the DNA, be it animal or human, they will seek freedom. It’s in our very nature, we are explorers, we seek to discover the new and unknown, to chart the vast expanse of what we do not know. Expanding our understanding of ourselves and the worlds that surround us.

Each of us are born with this curiosity; a yearning to go farther, this drive can never be satisfied while we are enchained—we need freedom. It’s inherent to not only the advancement of ourselves, our creativity, passions, pursuits and hearts, but to the collective legacy we leave behind. Without freedom life stagnates, it stalls in passion and discovery.

We went to war against ourselves to end lives in chains, to free those who were oppressed. We learned, created new words to build new understandings, and from those understandings we passed laws. Some laws helped to defend those rights to freedom, while some were used to take away freedoms.

Throughout our history we have evolved our understanding of what freedom means. From our first steps we seek to expand our boundaries, to learn, to grow, and to evolve our understanding to propel us forward farther than before.

Our history has been shaped by those who stood for freedom. Their struggles, their courage, has not only helped to define their cities, their countries, but the very fabric of who we are as a people. The fight for one of us is the fight for us all. Each time we come together we evolve the definition of who we are as a species. The collective humanity and the inherent rights defined therein.

It’s not about who you can marry, where you can sit on the bus, or the glass ceiling, but of all of us. Their struggles, their pain are all of our pain. The fight for human rights, be it singular or encompassing is the fight for all of us, furthering our understanding of who we are, what we want, and what we stand for.

This is the pursuit of self, freedom to be who you are without labels or judgements. The freedom to do with your body what you choose ensuring no harm to others. The freedom to live without fear of harm, to live, laugh, love, and be.

The search for who you are as an individual, and who we are as a species can never occur while we are enchained. We must be free to chart the course of our destiny without labels used like chains tethering us to who others think we are, and what rights they feel are necessary.

If you are able to enjoy freedom to love who you love, be who you are, and live your best life then why can’t everyone? Why do we fear each other so deeply that we feel a need to take away inherent rights. To tear apart the very fabric of our humanity, our human unity.

Years ago during the second Great War of our species, millions of people died scared and alone because some people felt their lives didn’t matter. Placed in camps like animals, treated inhumanly and then massacred. Their echo, their legacy, that horrible tragedy deserves a better testament than repeating the same mistakes that killed them.

Today, we are repeating those same mistakes. It starts with fear, like it always does, then it sours into hate and indifference. This grows like a cancer spreading to the hearts and minds of the masses so blinded by that fear and hate that they participate in, or stand by as good people die.

We as a species are better than this, tearing families apart while we huddle behind the safety of a flag, or the notion that it’s not our problem. Blinded by corrupted ideals that turn brother against brother and sister against sister, for the sake of our future we must do better if we are to survive.

We must come together not as a member of a neighbourhood, a city, or a nation, but in the very fact we are alive. That life, all life, all love, is precious, and must be defended from harm, suffering or cruelty.

Each time we turn a blind eye from pain and suffering we allow it, promote it, and become unwilling perpetrators in atrocities. It’s everyone's problem, because what we allow to the most vulnerable among us shapes who we are as a species, it sets the tone for those that come after us. Like paintings on the wall our history shows who we are by the acts we allow or protest.

That legacy, the legacy of the human race is more than cruelty or cages. Our people, the struggle of our ancestors who fought to see freedom reign cannot be forgotten. They brought us here through eons of pain and suffering not to be just like them, but to be better than them. To create a standing legacy of freedom and unity. That dream of freedom is important now more than ever as we struggle to understand ourselves and what the future holds.

Our future cannot be built out of fear, fear is weakness, and like a cancer has nearly killed us. It’s taken a great nation of immigrants to the verge of xenophobia. We as a race are better than this, no matter your political affiliation or motives at the end of the day you are still people. You were human long before you created sides.

All of us wanting a perfect future free from fear, suffering, and sorrow. Like you everyone wants that perfect future, that “American Dream.” Like your mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers they all yearn to be free.

It’s not your people or my people—we have always been one people under the divine. We can be better than this infighting and cruelty, we can evolve together. Change the legacy of our people back into one of Hope not of Fear.

If we do not stand for each other we will fall apart, which is where we find ourselves, apart. Life can be better if we choose it, we are more beautiful and noble than we know. It is in our hearts that we must trust, each act of love, kindness, and compassion shapes our collective heart.

I truly believe that love can save us, mend the broken heart of Humanity. Bridging the gaps between who we are now, and who we want to be. It will be a tougher road than we have ever walked, but we must walk it together. I know that road, that journey will be the most difficult thing we have ever done. However no matter the obstacle, we must, for it is the only road left that will take us home. If we do not stand for the dream of freedom now and forever it will remain a dream.

“You either create a world for everyone or else you will end up in a world fit for no one”

John Ames Birch