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By Amy Williams America is the “land of the free” but how well do we as Americans understand and appreciate the value of freedom? Throughout the centuries, human desire for freedom has remained constant. America is the “land of the free” but how well do we as Americans understand and appreciate the value of freedom? Throughout the centuries, human desire for freedom has remained constant. But what exactly is freedom and why do we seek it? What is its purpose and why is it essential to our fulfillment? All are important thoughts to consider as we approach the celebration of Independence Day. Lord Acton, a proponent of political liberty in the nineteenth century, gave one of the most complete definitions of freedom. He wrote, “True freedom is to be certain that at any time I can do what I should do.” Today we tend to define freedom as the certainty that at any time we can do what we want to do. Ironically, that is a type of freedom that enslaves—holding us captive by our desire for instant gratification. Individuals who chose what they should do over what they wanted to do gave Americans the freedom we enjoy today. They fought for the type of freedom that Lord Acton described: a freedom from fear, want and unjust control. What does freedom do? In essence, freedom allows for the realization of human fulfillment. It provides the opportunity and independence for man to become who he truly can be. Not long ago, I had the opportunity to speak with a gentleman from the Middle East about policy issues and the problem of poverty. He made the comment that Americans have no idea what real poverty is. He said that while thousands of Americans lack material resources, they aren’t poor because they have the freedom of opportunity. In order for freedom to allow for the realization of human fulfillment, it requires at least five elements: fortitude, effort, decisiveness, opportunity and a moral code. First and foremost, freedom calls for fortitude – courage in times of adversity. When we fail to have the courage to do what we should do for the common good, we are slaves to our cowardice. Freedom also requires effort. Thomas Jefferson wrote that a democratic society is one that must keep “eternal vigilance.” Winning our freedom involved tremendous effort, and only through this same effort can it be sustained. Freedom requires decisiveness, which may seem odd since we live in a society that champions the phrase “keep my options open.” However, freedom is not a value that we can take for granted, it is something we decide to make happen. In addition, freedom requires opportunity. Without the opportunity to grow and develop, to dream and to reach new heights, no human is satisfied. Finally, freedom requires moral standards that teach us to do what we should do, for both our own good and that of society. True freedom does not exist without each of these components. This Independence Day, let us not forget the incomparable value of the freedom we possess, while also considering the freedom we continue to seek as human beings. During the recent publicity after the death of Pope John Paul II, I came across a poem of his titled, Thinking my Country. The first few lines express beautifully how elusive freedom can be: “Freedom – a continuing conquest, It cannot simply be possessed! It comes as a gift, but keeping it is a struggle.” May we always be willing to engage in the noble struggle for freedom – the cost is great, but there is no greater reward. Find out more