#july4th2015

I wrote this post two years ago(see below).  About what freedom meant to me.  It meant the ability and the opportunity to be myself.  This year, after all that has happened, I can't help but think, that my thoughts were incredibly naive, and kind of self-centered.  

We have seen for a long time now, people being attacked because of who they are.  Whether it was Orlando, a specific attack on those that are LGBTQIA, or the Portland man who verbally abused a women wearing a hijab, before stabbing three men who came forward in her defense. So many have seemed to forget that the freedom which we fought so hard for was not our own.  It was the freedom of others to live as they choose in a way that makes them happy.

Over the course of June, I saw so many post about PRIDE, and watched and read interviews, with people about how the freedom they have now was so hard won, and even still is not complete.  One of the things I saw the most were comments of "I don't understand..."  As I considered these views I couldn't help but think, that understanding is not necessary.  What is necessary is to respect a person as a human being, and afford them the freedom to live their life as they choose.  

The very basis of all of the freedom were have as Americans, is that we may live however we like, as long as we are not causing harm to others. So, as a person who has grown so much over the last two years, I ask you to spend the Fourth embracing your freedom, and standing up for the freedoms of others.  Were you in their place, you would wish for allies and friends to stand with you. It is our responsibility as citizens of this country to value every other person's freedom as much as we value our own, and to protect it just as fiercely.  It is our responsibility as human beings to respect all others that we come into contact with.  To see them as just as valid and valuable as our loved ones.

So...Happy Independence Day, and thank you for all those who sacrifice their time, their health and well-being, and tragically too often, their lives in the protection of and upholding of our freedom.  I love and appreciate your sacrifice more than you can know.

Previous Post:  I've been thinking a lot today about freedom. What it means both in definition and to me personally. The thought that keeps coming back to me is a quote from Lord of the Rings. A conversation between Aragorn and Eowyn.

Aragorn: "What do you fear, lady?"

Eowyn: "A cage. To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire." — J.R.R. Tolkien (The Two Towers)”

Now I can't precisely fear being caged, but I think the undertone of this conversation speaks a lot about Eowyn's fear of being stuck in a perception that she finds not only uncomfortable, but ridiculous. She sees that she has so much more offer to the world than just the sparkling conversation expected from her as a highborn lady. That not who she is or who she wants to be. While she is most certainly a lady, she is also kind, and strong, and complicated, and very much unafraid of getting her hands dirty when the cause is worthy.

I fear that same cage. I consider freedom to be my ability to be who I am while answering to no one. I was raised in a family of total acceptance. Inside my own home I was safe to be who I was always. Out in the world things were very different. I learned to curtail my certain weirdnesses in order fit in better and allow for me to go through my day without being teased and taunted. While I have no regrets about presenting myself differently in public than I would in private (I know I saved myself a lot of headaches by doing so). I do wish that I could have always been who I was with out negative reactions.

So while you think about freedom today, think about giving everyone the chance of being who they are without fear. This country was founded on the idea of people being free to find their own happiness. That the way you live your life is up to you as long as your not curtailing the freedom of others. 

That's what 1,979,556 men and women have died for. That's the freedom they were fighting for. Almost two million lives given so that I can be who I am without fear. So that you can be who you are with confidence.