Freedom, ascending

            "What then is freedom? The power                      to live as one wishes." 

Marcus Tullius Cicero 

No, it is not hiding under the water, letting out an occasional gurgle. It is bursting forth like a geyser. What is it? Freedom. The "f" word, tyrants hate to hear. Where is it right now? Everywhere. There is something wired in our DNA which gives us a longing for freedom, and abhorrence to tyranny. Many in this country have that freedom DNA. Some, like our current President and his handlers - do not. Many in Canada have shown us they too, have this propensity for freedom. Again, their Prime Minister, does not. Is that it? Just us folks in the northern part of North America? Not hardly.

I find it interesting in hearing the good folks in the Ukraine. They have shown little fear, with the Bear at their doorsteps. Are they just going to lay down and let themselves be assimilated into Russia? Nope. They will fight to the death, if need be. But according to many, they are now a free country, and have no desire to go back in time. They tried being serfs to the Soviet Empire, and have no desire to be serfs again. Freedom!

Remember the demonstrations in Iran? Seems there are many (mostly younger) folks who have had it with living under the iron boot of the Mullahs. Prior to the revolution, people in Iran had a degree of freedom. Living under the Shah was not good, but history has proved much, much better than living under a theocracy. What do many in Iran desire right now? Freedom!

Communist China. A brutal regime to those on the lower end of the scale. The Uyghurs have been exploited and abused by the CCP. Kind of like the Kurds were in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. What the Uyghurs want more than anything else right now, is a seat at the table. Instead, they have been imprisoned, enslaved, had their organs harvested - and worse. What do they want for all of China, especially their own people? Freedom!

Marcus Tullius Cicero lived in the century before the birth of Christ. He was a Roman citizen who was a lawyer and a philosopher. He was a lover of freedom - so much so, he was ordered beheaded by Mark Anthony. But, a famous quote which is attributed to Cicero is as follows:

"What then is freedom? The power to live as one wishes."   

I love that quote. To me, the operative word is "power". That really is what freedom is all about. The power contained in each of us, not to accept anything but freedom. Years ago, I had this thought about freedom. That all men are born free - someone only needs to take that freedom away from them. Take that power of freedom away from them.

Look around. People all over the world right now, are saying that THEY have the power to be free. And that is an awesome power to have.