Freedom.
Oh, come on. Don't click away to your next bloglines update. Seriously. I am not going on a Palin-style rampage with my own personal take on freedom. What interests me more, and maybe will you as well, are the ways that people from different countries view freedom. Live it. Hunger for it.
Take for example Germany.
I was out for a traditional round of Kaffee und Kuchen in a Hamburg cafè several years ago with a friend. "You know," she said between bites of raspberry strusel cake, "Americans are always talking about how free America is. It's silly. I was there. I don't think it's so free."
I looked into my Milchkaffee, searching for the right tone in the frothed milk. "Well, ok," I moved my head back and forth a bit. "What did you think when you were there?"
"Well, for one thing, try going topless on the beach. You'll get arrested. And for God's sake, don't go topless and drink a beer without a brown paper bag over it. You'll get thrown in the slammer for years!"
Well, not really. But I got her point.
"Americans judge freedom differently," I tried. "See, our country was founded on the principles of religious freedom, since the original settlers were fleeing persecu...." I could see her yawn. I was spouting the contents of my 8th grade history book.
" Right. You are so free. That's why you all get 2 weeks vacation a year and can get fired without notice. Americans are so busy working that they forget to think sometimes. There is no free time! How can that be freedom?"
All of that made me think. What is freedom, really? Is it freedom to create? To practice religion? To have six weeks paid vacation to contemplate your navel? To flash your boobs with a bottle of beer in your hand in broad daylight?
Ok, here's the part where I start making generalizations. Please turn away, you sensitive politically correct types.
If you ask the average middle-of-the-road-centrist European what freedom means to her, she's likely to say something about having more time to spend with family and friends, more time to pursue hobbies, freedom from worry about getting fired, freedom from worry about getting sick and not having care.
That would, I think, mean that the European definition of freedom depends heavily on a regulated system that forces companies to provide said freedom (cough). Companies won't give away free time or guarantee jobs with a contract unless they are forced. Which they are. In Europe.
Freedom dependent on regulation.
Interesting.
If you ask the average middle-of-the-road-centrist American what freedom means to here, she might say that it means being free to pursue the life she wants, the ability to change directions and to learn and to grow and try new things, the freedom to practice or not practice a religion of choice, even Scientology if you can believe it. Health care would play a role. But personal choice, even in the health care question, would remain a central issue.
Which might mean that the American definition depends heavily on a deregulated system that allows for free enterprise, thrives on it in fact, but does not protect the individual or guarantee vacation or benefits or any of those things that Europeans hold dear. Free time is great, but not the high definition of freedom like it is in Europe.
Freedom dependent on lack of regulation, in a system, which by definition, robs people of almost all of their free time, because of the lack of regulation.
Also interesting.
These are completely personal observations based upon the last 16 years of living in Germany and Italy, after having spent my first 35 years in the United States. I find these sort of comparisons compelling. They reveal two vastly different mindsets, neither of which has the hold on the complete definition of the word.
There are common areas. Freedom of movement. Freedom of speech. Freedom of opinion. But there are many other areas that are very diametrically opposed. Which means, essentially, that freedom is relative. It's liquid and flowing. It's not a definite, although many who are locked into their own culture would swear that it is. It's absolute in its subjectivity. Since I am only able to talk about a small part of Europe and the United States with any degree of credibility, it interests me even more to know how cultures outside of these view freedom.
It's one of those subjects where there is no right or wrong. Just opinion.
Anyway, these are the thoughts that come to me as I scrape the dust out of window ledges with my fingernail (ouch) and lay mosaic windowsills.
What do you think about at such moments?
15 comments:
Wow, I love your comments and your pottery. I want to spend some time before I make a comment on this, as only well thought out comments should sit here. In the meantime you're going on our blog recommendations.
Wow indeed. You have great insight. Thanks to you and thanks to Veronika for pointing you out to me.
Thank you both very much for your comments. I am now going over to visit your sites.
Oh my... this is a lot of insight on freedom!! Love the way you write.. wish I could express myself like that!
I never thought of freedom in these terms, and certainly never as a relative concept. What you write seems right on though, so ... I'll think of it as I scrape dust today (nor really, the first day the sun shines bright and warm in the sky we're heading to the US embassy to spend the day in line!)
Very interesting post.
Maybe this explains all the anger from the "Tea Baggers" complaining that President Obama is turning America into a socialist, communist and fascist country (that the three are different clearly confuses most of the baggers).
I feel the last financial crisis, which started in the U.S., kind of killed the illusion that Europe was stagnant and that America's system was/is the only way to go. The deregulation of the banks caused one of the worst recessions since the depression.
Unchecked capitalism benefits only a few at the cost of many. Many of the jobs we lost during the era of heavy deregulation are not coming back. They will stay overseas.
Perhaps certain industries should not be deregulated, like food. Companies are in the business of making money. Period. Why would they care about putting ammonia in hamburger meat? That it's illegal to do so in Europe is one reason American lobbyists are fighting with the EU to allow more of their products to be sold here. Everything in America is about the bottom line. Lose your job and health care...tough cookies. Pull yourself up from your boot straps or go on a reality show.
Many of the people screaming against big government are the same people who try to pass laws governing what we do with our bodies, what books we can stock in our libraries, what can't be said on TV/Film etc.
Maybe it's because I'm older and have always worked in unstable fields but think only two weeks vacation (which most people in America never take) is BS.
Oh Boy, Diana, are you ready to and did you mean to start a discussion of giant proportions?
I have lived in two countries. I know without a doubt where I want to live. It is because of the big word FREEDOM that I have chosen to live in America. No where else could I have been successful in a business which, in turn, has allowed me to live the life I now cherish.
What a thought provoking article you have written and written in the immitigable style of Diana Strinati Bauer.
Wow big thoughts today Diana. I cannot think of my definition of freedom today as very tired, but may add something to this debate you've started later.
Hello bella Diana,
I look forward to adding my two cents to this discussion...after I have the time to articulate my thoughts and opinions. Fascinating topic! What do I think about as I am scrubbing, pruning, cooking? About who I would have been if I hadn't chosen this life 42 years ago.
I absolutely didn't mean to start a big discussion, just some small thinking!! I am just observing.
Gina, I remember when I first got to Germany, I used to tell people that I felt I was walking in a bowl of mashed potatoes. The bureaucracy - the tendency of everything to appeal to the masses, the lack of appreciation for individuality. Then I got to Italy and found more bureaucracy but with people more willing to jiggle around it rather than follow it. I judged freedom like an American when I got to Germany. Now, I think I fall somewhere in the middle. I have had too many friends get very sick and either not have insurance or are now in fear of losing it. And I do appreciate free time as an asset - in the States I didn't even really think about it. But I agree, it's easier to get business started in the States - way easier. The problem is now, can people really do it when they worry about losing health care? Can people be really free to choose?
I think it's an interesting discussion with so many shades of grey.
Ragazza, I laughed out loud on the socialist/communist/nazi comment. It's so true, like maybe these people actually need to start reading history before spouting ignorance and sheer stupidity.
Thanks for the comments everyone! Keep 'em coming!
Sue, I am looking forward to your comments, since you have lived in an Arab country and are now in the Sudan... you can give us another perspective completely.
I have lived in 5 western countries. What I have learned is that there is no better country. Everywhere is different but everywhere you have the same people. Good people and bad people in equal proportions.
What counts is if you can make the best of your situation. The world gets more and more mixed and only those who are flexible can achieve a measure of happiness.
Still, there are days I think I want to go again
Wonderful, interesting and thought-provoking post Diana. Freedom as a relative is striking.
Ciao amica
E xx
I have been doing a little thinking about freedom as well lately, having just posted a blog on Italy's recent manifestazione "raiperunanotte". It is incomprehensible for an american to even fathom the concept that there could be a gag on the media before an election. It got me to thinking that I take for granted all those bothersome political ads that infiltrate my life the week before an election here in the states. It give me a whole new appreciation for free speech and freedom of thought. As a woman I too appreciate the freedoms I have, as opposed to middle eastern countries. I can't imagine having my life, my career and my decision making abilities controlled by my husband or a male dominated society. When you are living in freedom in the west you tend not to think about it much...but everyone should stop and take a minute to do so and be thankful, despite some flaws, what we certainly do enjoy.
Great Post, makes you thinks things over....
Just a small comment from my point of view;
Freedom is a state of mind.
(of to look at older posts on your blog, just 'found you today. :-)
Post a Comment