Freedom suggests a bounty of ability, an unlimited licence do as we please because we can. Some of the many guises of freedom have recently been up for debate. Freedom of speech, freedom of belief and freedom of equality. Many people took to the streets in a peaceful defence of our right to these things. As Pope Frances said we not only have a right to these things but an obligation to do them if we genuinely believe it is in the interest of the general well being of humanity. However, what he went on to say (in perhaps a misguided way) was freedom should come with it's own self imposed limitation, that of respect. We have the obligation to say what needs saying, but it should be done in a fashion that does not hurt or set out to offend. If we prod to much in a disrespectful manner, we can expect people to respond. We should not however have to live with violence as a response. Violence solves nothing. Healthy debate in which our freedom to air our concerns can be done intellectually and respectfully.
The trouble with freedom and equality is it has to work both ways. This is a bitter pill to swallow. For while we defend our right to say and believe what we want, we also have to listen to the opposition. We do not have to just listen but if we truly believe in freedom and equality we actually have to defend the oppositions right to say and believe what they want. Again this self limitation of respect for each other and life has to come into play here too. But we have an obligation to listen, we have to accept and tolerate, no matter how hard this is. We should not and must not seek to silence or offend. We must keep our speech and our listening to reasoned debate. Seeking to place blame or name calling to silence those with whom we disagree is not part of the deal.
Freedom, therefore is not the limitless promise it at first glance appears to be. Equality is not a grasp all the power and step on those who have in our perception wronged us. We have all at points in our lives been entirely hypocritical in saying we believe in freedom and equality, when in reality we mean we believe in the freedom to do what I want and delivering that to the world is equality. We are at our hearts are all selfish beings. But because of this we can not and should not stand in judgement of those who have done the same. We should learn from our mistakes and our discomfort, and afford others an ear and freedom to state their beliefs. We should be prepared to hold together that which we so defiantly defend.
Amen
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