"We have more freedom here than anywhere else!"
This phrase seems to have taken the place of "it's a free country"...no one says that any more because everyone knows better. Even the biggest flag waver who absolutely will not objectively view the actions of the United States doesn't say "it's a free country"-it has been replaced with comparing the U.S. to some other country. It is usually said either angry or indignant when someone points out a ridiculous law or violent intrusion upon citizens' rights.
Putting aside for the moment that saying "we have more freedom here than (some other country)!" is a tacit admission that the US is not a free country and is no way any kind of defense of the law(s) in question let's examine it from another angle. There IS truth in that saying what with Europe criminalizing tweets and arresting people for carrying anything sharper than a marble. However, how does someone living under worse conditions make me more free? No one has more freedom simply because someone has less. In reality this statement is not patriotic but essentially a declarative statement of "We are allowed by our overlords to do stuff other overlords wont allow." In essence "we have a good king here!"
Let's get lazy and use the US slavery period as an example. Let's say Plantation A is where slaves not only do all the work and hand over anything they produce but also have to kneel and bow their heads when their "master" walks by. Now let's say there is a Plantation B where the slaves are not required to kneel and bow. Are the people in Plantation B REALLY more free than Plantation A? Does B need to become A before any valid criticisms can be launched at the plantation owner? Will it even be permissible to do such a thing?
The reason why criticisms are leveled and discussions are had is because if you live on B then yeah-you DON'T want to get to A. Merely wallowing in "But we're more free than A!" does fuck all to make people aware of their situation. In fact it HELPS the overseers and plantation owners. It perpetuates the idea that it isn't so bad. The phrase actually hinders the desire for freedom in others. The flag wavers and chest thumpers think they're doing the right thing but they're helping people accept the closing net.
It reminds me of scared children who hear a noise and tell themselves that it isn't the boogey man or something-only in this case the boogey man is real...and they know it. Most of these people saying this garbage know damned well what's going on but are too stubborn or scared to accept it as reality. Their defense mechanism kicks in-they want to be in the majority so they try and convince everyone that it's ok. Well, some of us while still concerned and fearful are no longer interested in living the lie. The encroachments are here, more are coming, and it will only be a matter of time before you need a new phrase to defend your oppressors. Who knows what that slogan will be-my guess is something along the lines of "They let us live-don't they?!"
I'm becoming one of those people you are describing here, but I'd like to keep my mind open to the possibility that I'm wrong, so I keep on reading.
My impression is that you are somewhat exaggerating a valid point and that there exaggeration may not work in your favor, theoretically speaking. But that's a whole other issue.
I guess the important question here is - what freedoms do we no longer have. Because if it is - as you say - that people won't say that it's a free country because they know it's not true, rather than it becoming a cliche for example.
well sure, freedom means no need for permission. Can you name an act that makes you more free, more self sufficient in which you do not need a license or some form of government approval before doing so?
Can't really think of anything like that.. How about you?
Nope. that's why I wrote this.
Doesn't it make our societies very free indeed? If we both can't think of anything that we want but are not allowed to..
no, what I mean is anything that you would like to do that would increase your personal liberty you need permission first. I can't think of anything I dont need permission for that increases my liberty.
Oh, alright. What I intended to ask was for an example of something you want that you are obligated to ask for permission.
Like how people needed special governmental permission to travel abroad in the 60-70-80's in the USSR.
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