Who Really Benefits from Freedom?

Good quote, we should free ourselves from those that enslave us and set ourselves free to lead an inclusive life - siva

Yes, sadly, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely." I will add wealth to power that corrupts society. Yes, freedom has its limits.We should always be mindful of those deprived for whatever reason. I cannot swing my arms around in the name of freedom unmindful of others around - siva

I worked in Surabaya for about five years during President Suharto era. Though there was no real democracy, I liked the discipline he enforced. Now I understand there are billboards with him portrayed asking " do you miss me?" I understand some do and yearn for earlier days of governance. I am now retired but still think about those days and the friendly people - siva

@Shiva49 Unfortunately the US is suffering a brainless fake President who does exactly what he wants for his multimillionaire friends and are ignoring children, women, the poor and the average American. Sadly because he was a TV Guy a lot of uninformed voted for him.

@PainsOnSlate It does happen when people want a change and one promises to be different. But then they go overboard to shake the very foundations of societal inclusiveness and unity. Some are loose cannons and we do not know what we are in for. Uniting people, even those who did not support them, is the hallmark of a true leader and not "us and them" take all the time - siva

Yes, but for most countries democracy and freedom are still work on progress. Leaders get elected promising better times but prove worse than the previous incumbents. They promise action against the corrupt but soon find their own are involved. It is musical chair getting played out with leaders in and out and even nepotism rampant. Democracy ends up as voting every five years and then being ignored. Western democracies are accountable but most other countries are grappling with it. Generations have been hoping against hope now for the system to be effective so that common folks interests are not ignored - siva

Yeah, there is no full fledged freedom but constrained to conform to societal good and inclusivity. The laws are in place but there are grey areas that few take advantage to get ahead. Most play by the rules though, thankfully - siva

Thank you Paula, appreciate your support - siva

@Shiva49 Anytime and always

That happens with the result the agenda based on which elections are decided are stymied time and time again. People in many countries want less of talk and more of action but it still remains high drama and entertainment and ends up much ado about nothing! siva

Unless the vast majority benefits freedom and democracy ring hollow. Now it is few who dictate the agenda even in democracies; whoever we elect to power the boss remains the same - the evil ones with greed and ego written all over them. The words of Mandela are worth remembering for a gracious society. The common folks are now shortchanged as also the law abiding - siva

The only thing I don't understand about what you've said is "co-creator" @Shiva49 are you under the impression that we helped the powers that be to create?

@rebelann I mention co-creator in the sense we should help our creator as we are at the apex of all species here on this planet. I believe our efforts merely scratch the surface for our survival while nature nurtures us and that means we have to repay big time to show our gratitude. We have an inner knowing that guides us provided we listen to it. We have the power to control other species and even spread our love and compassion to them. When in doubt I go by "do unto others as you would have them do unto you". In fact, I go a step further let others benefit more and that puts a smile that lasts - siva

Whatever the system in place few go overboard. They take advantage of gray areas to dominate the rest. Hypocrisy, ego and greed are our ruin. The common folks are bombarded with news, views and interviews but truth is still a casualty. Our leaders split them down the middle and for them it is more of self-preservation. Kindness, compassion and love can never go wrong. Our leaders should know the basics. There is no enmity among the 99% and I have seen it as a fact in my interactions with many on a daily basis. We are part of nature and should align our actions in tune with it. Nurture as a way of life and as a co-creator we find fulfillment in our lives. No need for weapons and wars if the attitude is right - siva

I have responded to your post. Thank you for the elucidation and clarification The United States is generally viewed as the bastion of democracy as it has a political system where "a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections". The above applies to many countries now and they pride themselves as democracies and for having "arrived" at the political system of choice. I agree morality is a casualty as we have moved away from love and compassion in our dealings. It is selfishness of the few that has destroyed the social fabric and made common folks cynical. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a basic step worth taking - siva

@bagarad So well said Barbara, thanks. I subscribe to every word and emotion of yours. I have been living away from my birth country for half my life though I visit many times even in a year. The reason is my parents live there, now only my mother. I take turns to look after her. I have followed a dictum I belong to where I live. I am loyal to that country and will never undermine it. In fact, my wife has won many awards over the years from the countries we lived for participating in community bonding. I have moved with all who profess different faiths. I have been educated in Christian and Muslim institutions. I can say the vast majority are for coexistence. I agree it is unbecoming of an immigrant to stand out like a sore thumb and not try to integrate into the welcoming country. If they feel uncomfortable, why go to that country; why not where their own live with same culture and customs? I have my own relatives who are citizens of countries including the United States. They have integrated and involve fully in the society and feel part of the social milieu. No question of undermining the host country which they are part of now. I travel light in conscience. I carry no baggage. I learn from all faiths as I believe there is only one creator by whatever name we may address him. We are humans at the end of the day and those who don't abide by peace are losers and their faith is skin deep and delusional. It is the bounden duty of the majority in every faith to assert against subversion of justice and fair play by the few. There is no "good terrorism". They are acts against humanity and god's children - siva .

@bagarad So well said Barbara, thanks. I subscribe to every word and emotion of yours. I have been living away from my birth country for half my life though I visit many times even in a year. The reason is my parents live there, now only my mother. I take turns to look after her. I have followed a dictum I belong to where I live. I am loyal to that country and will never undermine it. In fact, my wife has won many awards over the years from the countries we lived for participating in community bonding. I have moved with all who profess different faiths. I have been educated in Christian and Muslim institutions. I can say the vast majority are for coexistence. I agree it is unbecoming of an immigrant to stand out like a sore thumb and not try to integrate into the welcoming country. If they feel uncomfortable, why go to that country; why not where their own live with same culture and customs? I have my own relatives who are citizens of countries including the United States. They have integrated and involve fully in the society and feel part of the social milieu. No question of undermining the host country which they are part of now. I travel light in conscience. I carry no baggage. I learn from all faiths as I believe there is only one creator by whatever name we may address him. We are humans at the end of the day and those who don't abide by peace are losers and their faith is skin deep and delusional. It is the bounden duty of the majority in every faith to assert against subversion of justice and fair play by the few. There is no "good terrorism". They are acts against humanity and god's children - siva .

@Shiva49 , That man, Gandhi was a super wise man who has many followers. His legacy will live for centuries as people tend to relate well to real wisdom. You are also very wise. I applaud you your post.

Thank you. The super rich should pause and ponder - where did their wealth come from? Obviously, from the society and especially the poor who are trusting and even generous to part with what they have. The rich are more calculative. It is better that wealth flows back to the source from where it was generated and not used as a tool to measure success and achievement. Thankfully, the majority remain contented and have time for the little pleasures of life like smelling the roses. Gandhi said "A nation's greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.". Ultimately our conscience matters - siva

@lookatdesktop Thank you Anthony, you are indeed kind and it requires a generous heart to compliment another. Einstein said about Gandhi "Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.” I share my thoughts and feel fulfilled and gratified when they touch others proving we are more alike with similar feelings and aspirations than we care to admit - siva

@Shiva49 Loves lives in all life, and yet does that life live in love? Only when it loves. This moves it into love consciously alive as such. At all other times, it lives in the shadow of love, and also the shadow of life barely alive, because to live fully requires one to love fully. This then is the only real freedom. Living fully and loving fully.

@innertalks We need to elevate ourselves to the consciousness of love, higher consciousness. We need to ignite love or else it will lie dormant like it does mostly. When we do that we live in the oneness of creation and not separate from others - siva

Thanks Steve, Nice poem to drive home the point. We forget the basic ingredient - love - in our thoughts, actions and interactions.Then we go off on a tangent from the right path Selfishness has been our bane and then we lose the plot of oneness and inclusiveness. Freedom does not mean feathering own nest at the cost of others - siva

No problems. Being retired makes it easier for me to ponder about issues and share/unload them wherever I am allowed to! I like to think aloud and appreciate hearing what others have to say - siva

@YrNemo Yes few do all the time and thereby shortchange the rest - siva

@Shiva49 (Some people these days abuse the freedom they have to do bad things.)

Yeah, we have to press on and have much work to do for an egalitarian society. As long as the rich get richer, and worse, at the cost of the poor, we are sowing seeds of discontent and turning a blind eye to inconvenient truths. Let us put our shoulders to the wheel of positive change. It is a work in progress - siva

In a way it reflects our lives, lifestyle and moods too. When our outlook is egalitarian, freedom becomes part of our lives, a way of life. However, some want to corner all the freedom for themselves while denying others! siva