The land of the free. Fact or meaningless rhetoric?
- Locked due to inactivity on Aug 4, '16 4:19pm
Thread Topic: The land of the free. Fact or meaningless rhetoric?
-
Greatest I am NewbieThe land of the free. Fact or meaningless rhetoric?
Rhetoric is described as language that is not honest, sincere, or meaningful.
I am French. French has no word that equates to freedom or free will as understood by the English. This makes freedom and land of the free pure rhetorical statements and basically a dishonest statement. These terms are ideas or a reality that are impossible to have.
Freedom and free will then just becomes something that I would name as liberty. Liberty is described as permission especially to go freely within specified limits. That says to me that we are only free to follow the rules of society and those in power.
That being the case, is land of the free a true and meaningful expression?
Would it be more accurate to say land of liberty to follow the rules?
Free will is defined as freedom of humans to make choices that are not determined by prior causes or by divine intervention.
Free will translates to being your own master and not having your will hampered by any outside influence not of your choosing.
Does any law or divine command negate free will, freedom of choice and the notion of a ---- Land of the free?
Regards
DL -
Some of us are more free than others. I'm something of a democratic socialist, so I'd say that countries like Canada, England, and yes, France, are more free than we are. Also the United States has a law that allows the indefinite detainment of its own citizens, a law that only exists in a few other countries: China, Cuba, North Korea, and Myanmar. We were the trailblazers of human freedom I suppose, but we are not more free ourselves than others.
-
Greatest I am NewbieNo argument from me on this.
Regards
DL -
FLgirl92 NewbieWhen I hear "land of the free", I think about how we were the first people who really asserted that we were free, that everyone had the right to be heard, and that everyone was equal. Freedom is a state of mind in some ways- it's the ability to rise up against the odds no matter what obstacles are in front of you. I also think "land of the free" has a humanitarian aspect, that as the greatest free nation on Earth, we have a duty to fight for human freedom throughout the world.
-
Greatest I am NewbieFor sure but that fight should start at home and the U.S. does not even have equality of the sexes yet.
One should make sure they are walking their talk before pushing something on others that they have yet to accept themselves.
Regards
DL
This thread is locked, therefore no new posts can be made.
