Coffee Leads to Deep Thought

This morning in our usual summer fashion, I attempted to slowly wake up at the dining room table, coffee in hand while Al tottered around the house saying "I'm late for work".  Even in this transitional state, we often have mini-conversations about random topics.  This morning, I read yesterday's receipt from The Lock Doctor and noticed that the locksmith wrote in big rounded lettering.  However we got there, our conversation lead to the subject of gay marriage and the meaning of freedom.  (And might I take this opportunity to say that "Terri" did a great job!?  He was five minutes early, took just an hour to install three deadbolts and cleaned up after himself.  I strongly recommend.)  So, back to the story...

Dictionary.com defines "freedom" as the state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint, exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc, the power to determine action without restraint, political or national independence, personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery.

So much these days the concept of freedom is slung around like an accessory to almost every political or patriotic conversation.  A point was brought up this morning; what is freedom?  Although it's easy to go online and insert said definition with said word, often times our cultural usage of language complicates already heated topics.  Or, is it the other way around - heated topics are skewed by our cultural usage of language?  Do people use the term "freedom" too lightly?  Is freedom undervalued because we have cheapened it with catch phrases?

I personally get peeved at the inconsistencies surrounding freedom, but mainly the use of the word freedom to gain power.  Surely if we are a country who are free, a country who boasts personal liberty, a country who prides itself on making decisions of the people and for the people then "the people" would be able to make their own choices, i.e. marriage, abortion, health care...

Yes, these are BIG topics without perfect solutions.  And even as I write this, I can sense inconsistencies in my own thinking.  For example, I believe in a government health care option for the simple reason that it would allow those who can't otherwise afford health insurance to be covered.  However, from what I just said above, does a government health care option infringe on people's liberty?  Some feel that they would be forced to pay out of their taxes for a service they won't use.  That could be said for lots of things and for fear of ranting, which is not the purpose of this post, I'll just stop right there about that.  If you would like to comment, please feel free to do so.  

Some believe marriage is a religious institution - why then must we need a marriage certificate from local government?  If that's the case, then why doesn't government let the people marry whom they like while churches decide what they deem right?  Again, it's that darn interpretation of freedom.

As usual, I ask more questions then I can answer, but I believe that asking questions is one of the best ways to gain information and learn new things.  Regardless of what our own interpretations and beliefs are, it's necessary to be open enough to ask questions and more importantly, to actually listen to the answers.  Sadly, most of the time when I ask questions to others with opposing beliefs the conversation shuts down.

Perhaps freedom should extend to freeing our minds of prejudice, judgement and opposition.  Perhaps we need to free ourselves from the discomfort of disagreeing with each other.  Imagine it, would the world be a more peaceful, tolerant, accepting place?  I'm not sure.  It's just another question to ask.