Personal freedom! It’s one’s power, or right, to act, speak, or think as one wants. It’s a fundamental principle in many societies – past, present and, presumably, future.
Or is it compromised to some extent by the personal freedom of others?
Is it fair to suggest that one’s power, or right, to act, speak or think as one wants, must come with boundaries? If so, what are they and from where do they come?
It’s impossible to expect, demand or fulfil one’s personal freedom, without acknowledging the other side of the scale – personal responsibility.
All choices have consequences. And our choices rarely have consequences whose effects are limited to ourselves. For individuals to succeed, for families to thrive, and for society to be harmonious, most of us realise that to enjoy personal freedom, we must accept personal responsibility.
What are our personal freedoms and from where do our personal responsibilities come?
1. The spiritual sphere, or moral law
Faith, religion and spiritual loyalty and freedom have been with us for centuries. However, since the second world war they have been in grave decline. When Australia – a representative democracy – held its first census in 1911 for its 4.5 million residents, a total of 357 religious categories were acknowledged at the time. It’s 2016 census indicated that only three religious categories were of significant influence – Christianity (52%), Islam (2.6%) and Buddhism (2.4%).
30% of Australian citizens reported that they had no religion. Is this the same as saying 30% of Australia’s population has no moral principles? Or could it be said that the origins of those principles are unknown or are of no worth? Could the same be said for other representative democracies?
2. The physical sphere, or natural science
The natural environment is the genesis of all life. Our very existence is the result of two fundamental, unique powers, which are of equal importance, yet vastly different: mother earth and father sky. The giving of life is not achieved with two eggs; neither is it achieved with two sperm. Our very existence is impossible unless egg and sperm combine. How do we determine where we can exercise our human right to intervene, and where we must respect nature’s right to protect and endure?
3. The political sphere, or civil society
Society survives because there is an overarching set of principles or laws by which everyone abides. Its members must live by the agreed rules of the game of life. Personal responsibility must be regarded as being of equal importance as personal freedom. How is resolution to be achieved when one’s own freedom is affected by the freedom of others? How does society determine the outcome when there is conflict between one freedom and another?
4. The economic sphere, or the exchange of benefits in business and personal life
To exchange is to give, to another, that which the other does not have, with the full understanding that you will receive that which you do not have. To exchange is to honour difference and to acknowledge the things we are capable of, and those we are not. Is receiving without giving a rejection of personal responsibility?
Personal freedom! It’s about the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants. It’s a fundamental principle of society – past, present and future. So too is personal responsibility.
In whom or what do you have complete faith? Are you guided by religious, physical, political or economic principles? How far are you prepared to go to maintain your personal freedom?
More importantly, in whom or what do you have complete faith? Or trust to be responsible for you, when your personal freedom has gone?
Here’s my email if you’d like to reach out.
cheryl@cheryllacey.com
Copyright © 2020 Cheryl Lacey All rights reserved.
Parent, educationist and agitating advocate for change in Australian education.
By raising the bar we can challenge and overcome any global challenges facing Australia and Australians.
