About Freedom and responsibility

When I watch the news, the perception of what’s happening in the U.S.A. looks weird to us here in Europe.

We all know that we live in unprecedented times. We see a large number of people concerned about the apparent lack of Freedom. But some wear a weapon on the streets to underline their claims. Why?

It looks that these people forget that Freedom is connected to responsibility. I cannot be free to do what I want if I’m not prepared to take responsibility for my actions.

I enjoy a lot of Freedom. I can do whatever I want. I’m only concerned about what is bad for other peoples around me and about what’s bad for our environment.

These two aspects, other people and our environment, are the two constraints, which restrict my Freedom.

The word “responsibility” can summarize these constraints to my Freedom.

When I choose to do something or not to do something, I need to consider the effects on my environment, either on the persons around me or the nature around me.

Depending on my position in an organisation, my action can affect a lot of people as well.

For example:

• I cannot do something which restricts the Freedom of someone other
• I cannot claim maximum Freedom for me, but without granting the same Freedom to other persons. This includes the personal rights of these other persons
• I cannot do anything to force someone other to do what I want, just because I’m free to do it
• I cannot do anything which harms another person à But this should be common sense
• I will do anything to reduce my negative impact on the environment

These “rules” affect my freedom. Anyway, I’m not concerned as these are positive constraints which improve my life and my position in society and my private and work environment.

But it’s not so easy when I consider other aspects of freedom and responsibility.

For example, what should I do, when I see other persons, who do not enjoy the same level of freedom as I have.

Do I have the right to fight for them?

To be realistic, it depends on some factors:

• Can I help this person to get more freedom?
• Do I have the right to use violence, to “help” this person?
• In the broader context, does an organisation or a country have the right to intervene with violence to “help” suppressed person

Especially the last point is very disputable.

Has any country, or coalition of nations, the right to use violence to liberate people?

If yes, should it do it all around the world, without constraints if there are national interests in these countries? This would be consequential.

What if these people are happy with their way of life? Do we really have the right to criticise or “liberate” this society?

When we look at history, we see many cases, in which violent intervention was right — for example, WWII, Korea, Kuwait or former Yugoslavia. Even though NATO allowed only air based intervention in Yugoslavia, while several atrocities were committed to the people on the ground. But this as a completely different discussion.

But what’s about the many conflicts in Africa, which are mainly caused by European colonialism. Does Europa have the responsibility to intervene to solve these conflicts?

In principle yes. But how should Europe do this, without being rejected by these countries, because of that very colonialism past?

I have no answer to these questions. And there are no easy answers to these questions at all.

But we, as European, have the responsibility to help in Africa because of this past.

We live in paradise, while millions of people suffer in Africa and other parts of this world.

I can speak for myself when I’m saying that I can only do my best to act responsibly with my freedom and help whenever I can.

And I will not judge people because they look different to me or act differently than I. We should be happy that we live in such a colourful and diverse world. We can learn a lot from each other, without imposing anything on each other.

Just live in freedom and allow all other people to enjoy the same level of freedom and independence without distinction of origin or culture.

Please leave your comments or thoughts on this topic as responses to this article.