What is Freedom?

Recent events in Paris have compelled me to think, share, and write my thoughts about the word freedom. What exactly is freedom? How should we, as a Catholic Christian people use our freedoms in a society in which, increasingly, everything we say or do can be categorized under some form of freedom?

Our country was populated with those who wrote about freedom. Our Declaration of Independence included the words “That the United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States”. These remarkable words, and the men who signed their belief in them, were written with the true and certain knowledge of the consequence of death by hanging as traitors to the crown if we did not win our independence from Great Britain. Our Constitution and especially our Bill of Rights lists of freedoms, including Freedom of Speech and the Press.  

Journalists throughout this country have labored under these important freedoms of Speech and Press for more than two centuries, and have made important contributions to our nation’s history by doing so. It was under the journalism pen that we as a country learned of the Watergate scandal, which ultimately brought the presidency of Richard Nixon to an end, and we were glued to our television screens as he announced his resignation. I would like to believe that this is journalism at its best; dedicated writers who are committed to telling us the truth and allowing us to draw our own conclusions.

At our best, we as a Christian people are committed to practicing this same commitment; sharing with others what is true and right in this world and letting others draw their own conclusions from it. I would like to believe such language builds our own reputation. Jesus was committed to such truths when He said before Pilate “the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (Jn. 18:37b).

I would like to think that the essence of true freedom is found in a five question statement called THINK: Is it TRUE? Is it HELPFUL? Is it INSPIRING? Is it NECESSARY? Is it KIND?   For example, I had an experience at work,that I walked in upon, in which one of my colleagues was stating to a client that she was sorry that she was misunderstood. Now I could have interjected that no, she really wasn’t; she meant every word, and considered it free speech, because I meant it to be funny, but the result would have been a confused client, an angry colleague, a real loss of reputation and respect for myself as a caring person and, if the incident got to my supervisor, an angry retort that, if I ever tried such a thing again, I would not be welcome on a unit that I really enjoy working at. All for a simple statement that was not true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, or kind.

I would like to believe that the incident in Paris is a perfect example of what happens when someone publishes something that doesn’t meet any of the criteria mentioned above. I know some journalists that would choose to disagree with me; that under the free speech clause we can write, draw and say what we want, but we have to understand that words and drawings done out of turn have consequences that cannot be taken back.

Perhaps most troubling is that the follow-up sold five million copies. Jesus said “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you lose one part of your body than have your whole body thrown into hell.” (Mt.5:29). People will write, draw, and say what they will; it is our responsibility to decide what we choose to let in. Let us all make the choice to only let in those things that are true, helpful, inspiring, necessary, and kind.