The Cost of Freedom
When I searched the images on this site, my search parameters were, "cost of freedom". The title image was the only one that came up. Apparently, I am not the only one who feels this way. Who understands, that freedom is not free. Who understands that freedom requires sacrifice.
Freedom isn’t free. There is a price to be paid for all freedom. And, it's price is usually sacrifice.
Just ask a Veteran. Ask a Veteran about service, sacrifice, responsibility and accountability to others.
There is always a price to pay for freedom. There is always some kind of sacrifice to be made. And, those who refuse to sacrifice anything to guarantee even their own freedoms and liberties let alone everyone else's, only serve to dishonor those who have sacrificed to guarantee their freedoms and liberties. Especially those who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms that they, themselves didn’t get the opportunity to enjoy.
“Liberty brings with it responsibility. That is why most men dread it.” – George Bernard Shaw
I started penning a blog post with regard to the civil disobedience that we have all been witness to, as of late. The anti-mask, anti-lockdown, anti-oppression sentiments being expressed; in the media, on social media, and through protests, like the one in Toronto the other day. By those of who are not comfortable with having their freedoms limited. Most of whom, have never experienced the subjugation of their liberties, or oppression in any form, in their lifetime before now. Hence, why they are so uncomfortable with this state of being. I won’t specify which demographic I am referring to, as we all know what I mean. Many, are those who have always held privilege of some kind. Privilege that allowed them to enjoy all of the rights and freedoms that have been paid for, for them by those who sacrificed themselves and their own well-being. Those who sacrificed so, others could be afforded such freedoms. Freedoms that many of them will never get to enjoy, themselves.
Freedom of expression, freedom of movement, freedom from tyranny and oppression. Most of them, have no idea what it is like to truly be oppressed. Or, to have their rights and freedoms either threatened, or even stripped away. Rights that have not been afforded to everyone because of bias and prejudice and systemic oppression. Or, in cases like those serving in our military, or when a global pandemic threatens lives, livelihoods and lifestyles; for the greater good of all. The latter, being a temporary solution to the problem at hand or to a clear and present threat of danger, of some kind.
I started penning this, after having been victim of a personal attack by one such person who was of the mindset that I was ‘blind to the real, and more insidious reasons for lockdowns and the use of masks’; despite the fact that they had no idea what stance I took on the issues at hand. They just assumed they knew. And, called me a ‘sheep’ because I wasn’t displaying civil disobedience, and flying my flag of dissonance like they were. Because I was appealing to my circle of ‘friends’ and family on social media, to just stay home. To only go out when necessary and mask-up when going out. An appeal to do their part, so that we could get this over with, and try to move forward from it all; sooner than later.
I started penning this, and then got overwhelmed at the seething anger I was feeling about this attack. About the seething anger I was feeling about everyone’s disobedience, and its adverse effect on the timeliness of a desired eventual end to this pandemic. So, I backburnered that narrative and moved onto other things for the day.
Then today, I read a friend’s blog post where he used a quote by George Bernard Shaw, suggesting what I know to be true from my military experience (seeing others make the ultimate sacrifice for complete strangers, and sacrificing in my own ways during my service); that freedom isn’t free. As Shaw wrote, “liberty brings with it responsibility”. In the case of a global pandemic, that means the responsibility to ensure others’ safety, as well as your own. It also means, the responsibility to engage in whatever behaviour is necessary to bring an end to the crisis. Which includes the responsibility to do whatever it takes to see that our freedom and liberty is restored to us in a timely fashion, as well. While, protecting others from harm – even if you don’t see it as a real threat, yourself. Sometimes, taking responsibility to ensure those freedoms means, doing it anyway. Sometimes that looks like just wearing the damn mask, and complying with lockdowns, in order to get this thing over with. In effect, minimizing the harm that it is doing to both, people’s physical and mental health (because even those who don’t see the virus as a real threat, admit that the lockdowns are a threat to people’s mental, physical and financial health).
I don't care what side of the fence you are on. Or, whether or not you believe that the virus is real. I don't care whether or not you believe it’s okay to protest our rights and liberties being taken away during a global pandemic, and a with clear and concise stay-at-home order in effect. All, because you are not used to being oppressed. If you are choosing to fight back by protesting these things, you are not doing it for others because you are doing so with little to no regard for others’ well-being. You say things like, “you don’t see that our rights are being stripped away” or, “the effect of the lockdown is worse than the ‘supposed’ virus”. You say you care about people’s wellness, livelihood and mental health, and yet, engage in activities that only serve to both, put people’s lives at risk, and to drag this thing out; putting their mental health and financial well-being at further risk of harm. Do you not see that, in order for this to end, that we all need to do what it takes to make that happen? That if you want our liberties restored, you need to take some responsibility and do what it takes to put an end to this, and the consequential subjugation of our liberties, as well?
Every argument against masks, lockdowns and social distancing measures I’ve seen thus far seems to contain the same ‘freedom and liberty’ narrative. That, we should be concerned about our liberties being stripped away. And, that we need to see that this entire thing has been contrived to oppress us. That there is a grander plan to this pandemic; that it was all planned for one insidious reason or another. I’ve also seen the arguments that lockdowns cause a greater harm to individuals and to our economy, than the virus, itself does. All of these things may or may not have some validity to them. I do agree that there is definitely validity to the idea that there are adverse effects on mental health and economic wellness aspect of lockdowns. We all know that to be true. However, I’m not entirely convinced about the other elements of these theories.
Either way, I don’t see many of them stepping foot at any racial inequality protests or speaking up for other marginalized groups. In fact, I didn’t hear from most of them about their thoughts on oppression, until they felt oppressed, themselves. Until their rights and freedoms were subjugated. Which only serves to prove that their concern is not for the greater good, as they’re trying to convince us all of. But most, still that of their own selfish interests. Unfortunately; for both them, and the rest of us, while they’re over there practicing civil disobedience in hopes of restoring our civil liberties, all they are doing is prolonging the very thing that is threatening our liberties, in the first place. The irony is just too loud for me. And, it’s not doing anyone any good.
During this toxic back and forth that I was unlucky enough to be part of the other day, this so-called ‘friend’ brought up my military service. Suggesting that I, in some way, held myself in higher esteem because of my military service. On the contrary, I hold others in a higher esteem than myself. I have always put others’ well-being ahead of my own. It’s a behaviour rooted in empathy and compassion, and is at the very core of my being. Which is why I have lived a life of service. And, why I hold myself to a higher standard, as a result. I expect more of myself, and of my brothers and sisters; my comrades. I expect them to serve and sacrifice for others, as we promised to do when we joined the military. And I, like many of my brothers and sisters continue to hold that service and sacrifice mindset, long after our ‘service’ has ended. Most of us have stepped up in one way or another, throughout this. Even if that only meant that we wore a mask in public, despite its effect on us (and our PTSD-related anxiety). Even if that meant isolating ourselves further for the greater good. Many of us did it out of muscle memory; the knee-jerk reaction being, to do whatever it takes to protect others; health, wellness and, freedom and liberty, alike.
I don’t hold myself in higher esteem because of my military service. But I do see things differently because of it. As do my brothers and sisters.
Anyone who has ever served in the military knows what I mean by that. Knows what it is like to give up your own freedoms to guarantee others’ theirs. Everyone who has attended even basic training, at the very least, has themselves, had their liberties stripped away from them for the purpose of learning to be responsible for others’ well-being. We’ve experienced having to wear a variety of masks to protect others. We have experienced lock-downs; being confined to bases throughout training, exercises and taskings, or even confined to barracks for the same. Usually, when confined to barracks, it was the result of the one doing something that caused the greater number of us to suffer as a team. As a result, we understand the concept of how our actions effect others’ lives, liberties and well-being. We know the ultimate outcome of disobedience and discord, we have learned to make necessary sacrifices for the greater good. We understand what ‘teamwork’ really looks like. That does not make us ‘sheep’. It makes us responsible; to one another, and to humankind, as a whole.
It shows that we understand that freedom is not free, and that there is a responsibility associated with that liberty for all. And I, like many of my comrades, wish that the average citizen; who we have all sacrificed something for, at some point in our lives and careers, would see it the same way. And, instead of continuing to make things worse because of their lack of responsibility and accountability to others, would just do what it takes to put an end to this. Other countries have shown this narrative of unity and teamwork throughout this crisis.
New Zealand is a good example of this. The pandemic began to take shape in early March of 2020. Their cases were at zero by June. Since then, they have returned to ‘normal’; or as ‘normal’ as they will ever be or experience again after such a crazy time in our history. They have completely re-opened; their schools, their shops, and their lives. They are rebuilding; their lives, their economy and their overall wellness, together. Because they worked together to put an end to it; by relying on what they referred to as, "science and empathy", regardless of their beliefs on the issues at hand.
Their measures were among the earliest and strictest measures taken, globally. Self-isolation, complete lockdowns, social distancing and mask-wearing, immediately. They also shut down their borders. As is highlighted in an article written about their response to Covid, New Zealand came together as a, “team”. And as one of the article's I read recently suggests, “Unlike the countries that declared ‘war’ on Covid-19", the [NZ’s] government's message was that of a country coming together. It urged people to "Unite Against Covid-19". They fought together, against the threat, versus fighting against the machine, or one another. They continually referenced themselves as a, "team of five million". To date, their cases remain at only 10. All of which, appear, from the research I’ve done, to have been seen at the border and, were in managed isolation. There are no new cases within their communities, at this time. And, so life goes on as (a new) ‘normal’ for them. With no further threats to their well-being, or limitations on their freedoms or liberties.
It is possible to both, speak your mind and fight for what you believe is right, without doing harm to others. It is possible to be responsible and accountable to others, while still using your voice. It’s not going to break you to bend a little. Even if you don’t believe that there is a clear and present danger to others. Or, if you feel the whole thing as a grand hoax, as it seems many do. I've seen many people who embrace the 'anti-mask', 'anti-lockdown' ideals. Many who's opinion is different from my own, and who's narrative is that of the great reset theory. Many of those who don't believe it to be a real threat, and yet have stepped up, and chosen to comply with regulations to reduce harm and expedite the process of getting back to some semblance of normal. Despite their beliefs. Not joining in the protests because they know that it will only serve to lengthen that process. These people, not believing that masks work, still wearing them in public for the sake of others. Because, regardless of their beliefs, they still want an end to this, and many still have compassion.
There were protests in New Zealand; anti-mask and lockdown protests, but they were small, peaceful and, for the most part, people wore masks. Those who didn’t, maintained and adhered to the social distancing practices that were in place. In other words, even though they felt it necessary to speak up about their liberties being oppressed, and about their view on the virus and the pandemic, itself (and their various opinions on these topics), they still showed a level of concern for, and responsibility to one another while doing so.
In order for us to see an end to this, we need act like one. One tribe, one people, one team. And, we need to recognize the roles that we play in all of it. To recognize, as I’ve said multiple times; that freedom is not free, and that we all have to understand that. That we need to take responsibility and be accountable for our actions throughout this pandemic, and how what we do (or don’t do) effects others’. And, how it effects the time it takes for us to get through to the other side, and move on. That, by the actions they are taking to try to ‘restore our freedoms’, they are extending the time in which our freedoms will be and are limited. That, in order for those liberties and, life as we once knew it, to be restored, that we all have to put our differences of opinion aside, and make a sacrifice for the greater good of all. We need to act like a Veteran, or at the very least, a member of one another’s team and stop getting each other confined to quarters.
Freedom isn’t free. Just ask a Veteran. They know that we’re all one tribe. And, they gladly fight to protect that tribe; as they have done countless times before. To protect their lives, and their freedoms. They willingly sacrifice for those freedoms; for all. Would you do the same for your freedom? For your tribe? For the world? Do you know the real cost of freedom? Would you pay it, if you did?