Freedom vs. Responsibility
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Freedom vs. Responsibility
Freedom (n)
1. The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement of under restraint
2. Exemption from external control, interference, regulation
3. The power to determine action without restraint
The definition most people use is number two – exemption from external control, interference and regulation. People want to be able to do what they want and when they want. Some might call this being irresponsible.
Responsibility (n)
1. An instance of being responsible; The responsibility for this mess is yours
2. A particular burden of obligation upon one who is responsible; the responsibility of authority
3. A person or thing for which one is responsible: a child is a responsibility of its parents
In America we are always at war with these two values. We think we should be free to do as we like and we hate government telling us what we have to do.
But when we let “Freedom” run wild we get the mortgage mess, with unregulated banks, mortgage companies and Wall Street committing fraud and society and the taxpayers picking up the bill.
Republicans love to talk about personal freedom over the responsibility we all have to each other as Americans. Yes I said it – we are all in this together and those who say they aren’t are selfish and irresponsible – most Republicans fall into this group.
In a democracy we are all responsible for our government and what it does and doesn’t do. The Bush gang decided not to enforce the financial regulations and allow the crooks to have complete freedom to commit fraud – Free enterprise gone crazy.
As Christians we are also challenged by these two values. If we really listen to Jesus Christ we must admit we have little freedom to be selfish and ignore others. He demands we “Love our neighbor as you love yourself” and we “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” These are not recommendations to be followed when we feel like it, but commandments that must be followed. No freedom here, just responsibility.
Am I right? What do you think?
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anonymous 6 months ago
I think that America is more at war with the desire to do what we want when we want to, but that we want to do so without accepting the consequences for our actions (like being punished for breaking laws established by our government). I think that is truely irresponsible.
I think that before you go and point fingers at who is responsible for the division in our country caused by putting personal freedoms before the responsibility we have to other Americans, you must first establish what responsibility we have towards one another. I think that the responsibility we have is to respect each other's natural rights and protect their right to make their own decisions (so long as they are willing to accept the consequences). This is true love for one another- knowing others believe differently from you, but accepting that they have the right to do so.
In this definition, I believe the real culprits of selfishness and irresponsibility are those unwilling to accept consequences as the effect of their own choices, and instead choose to blame others for the outcomes. That would imply that it's not just most Republicans that are selfish and irresponsible- it is all of humankind. Who wants to be told their opinion is no better than the person's next to them? No one. Therefore, everyone is irresponsible, wanting to put their personal freedoms above their fellow men. This is the basis for politics- differing opinions, and wanting yours to be the dominating one.
As for Christ-like love and commandments, they are responsibilities, but also promote freedom- if you really love everyone, you would allow them to make the choices they want to, and allow them to own up to the consequences. People will always have a choice, and this is true freedom. Responsibilty is simply owning up to the consequences.