FREEDOM...?

Someone asked "what is freedom?" and it appeared that nobody wanted to address the question as it doesn't really have a singular, cogent answer.

And the context in point pertained to "political" freedom.

And that subjectively means different things to people but even so, it's as fuzzy as all hell.

The US Constitution supposedly defines, enshrines and is geared to protect the individual and collective freedom of its citizens through this mechanism we euphemistically call democracy. 

The constitution of my own current country of residence, South Africa,  claims a similar ideology.

And in this context, I guess the most pertinent approach to an answer is unfortunately through comparison - which political system offers its citizens the most "freedom?"

It would be a fascinating find (I'm sure it's been done many times) to come across a spreadsheet showing, by country, what freedoms and restrictions are currently enjoyed by citizens across the world.

And the dilution of this analogy is, as with South Africa, simply: are the majority of our citizens "better off" (more free) than they were under the previous system or in the case in point: are we more "free" in our democracies than those who lived and/or still live communistically? In the conversation where this was raised by an American friend, Cuba was the case in point, understandably, given its geographical proximity and connection with the US. Then there's the Eastern version of communism...another animal entirely.

However, it's a simple question with, undoubtedly, a very convoluted and complex answer.

Using South Africa as an example (I know this dynamic having lived here for over 40 years): the majority of South Africans now enjoy (constitutionally, at least) freedom from discrimination based on their ethnicity (we know in reality that ideology doesn't necessarily translate into desired behaviour, however, that now thankfully pertains only to radical minorities). South Africans are free to say what they want about anybody and anything publicly without ending up in detention as long as what's being said doesn't constitute "hate speech."

We're free to practice any religious expression and, it has to be said, there's currently possibly more opposition here toward the Jewish community (Gaza/Palestine situation primarily) than Muslims which is probably unique in Western democracies, which South Africa, to some degree, purports to be.

So without a blow-by-blow analysis of our theoretical constitution versus its practical implementation, suffice to say that yes, South Africans are seemingly more free than they've ever been. 

But it's bogus. 

If one looks at the prevalent situation here as far as violent crime goes, the majority of middle-class suburban South Africa exists behind walls topped with electrified fences in estates that are policed by armed private security companies, such as the one inhabited by Oscar Pistorius and his erstwhile girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp. So the illusion of safety from the threat of crime is just that - a state of mind. Ironically, Reeva was murdered by one of the trusted members of the inner circle not by some marauding thief from the nasty "outside world."

However you dice it and serve it though: South Africans still live in fear. Almost 200 women are raped every day in this country while the current daily murder trend is around 47. 

So as far as freedom from crime and fear is concerned it really doesn't seem valid.

Freedom is thus an abstract constitutional concept defined by the need, certainly for millions, to exist in gated, secure communities because they believe it isn't safe to live in any other way. That's not freedom. It's a lifestyle, sure. But it ain't freedom.

However, we're not hysterically psychologically hogtied by media hype over things like Ebola as people in the US seemingly are, given the sensationalistic and fearmongering exposure seen in the mainstream media there. South Africans aren't as readily duped by those strategies. No, we are fearful of other more localised and mundane things such as carjackings, rape, murder and home invasions - all insanely prevalent and beyond anything that should be deemed acceptable or normal. Yet that's life in South Africa.

More insidiously, we also have similar cyber-eavesdropping legislation here as in UK, US, certain countries in Europe, Australia etc. 

The rampant corruption that obtains starts at the highest office in the country and there is no accountability even when people are caught. 

The judicial system is a farce and readily influenced by those with power and/or money. 

Whistleblowers are also now being accorded pariah status (as in US, UK, Australia) to reduce criticism of state, again such once-noble and patriotic acts being disingenuously packaged as threats  to national security.

There's no Patriot Act though and a much more benign version of Homeland Security here...so far. 

We can harvest rainwater freely, live off the grid if we so choose but we do have zero-tolerance militant police who brook no compromise if you're a person of interest.

There is much less chance of secret detention without trial now, however, there's no official subversive element that opposes government (such as the outlawed ANC did back in the day with the Nat government). If such movements had to surface, I would bet there would be the same level of paranoia and dirty tricks to emerge as did under apartheid and people would end up in our own local Guantanamo... maybe Gautengamo..?

So how does communism front up to that?

Does your constitution cater for and/or protect you under the listed circumstances:

Can you say what you want anywhere any time? 

Can you create a political party to oppose the incumbent regime without being fatally persecuted?

Does your vote actually count for anything? 

Are you formally restricted in your desire to procreate?

Will your religious convictions cause you to be persecuted, especially if you're Muslim or not a follower of the "state" religion? (Israel springs to mind)

Does your country still enforce the death penalty? And if so, what "crimes" merit that sentence? 

Or are you in a (theoretically) more morally evolved country that doesn't enforce capital punishment? 

Are you, as a minority, persecuted?

Are you, by dint of your sexual persuasion or gender, persecuted?

Are you free to harvest natural elements and resources and live off the national grid without being persecuted?

Is your personal privacy sacrosanct as far as surveillance is concerned? 

Is your sovereignty recognised by all other "free" countries globally?

Does your nationality prejudice you in any way and restrict your ability to travel abroad?

How does government policy affect your ability to produce food sustainably and idependently?

It's all comparative really and begs the question: is covert hegemony, such as exists in the US, South Africa etc. where personal freedom is hobbled by subversive legislation disingenuously presented as augmenting our safety, more just and humane than the dictatorship that overtly outlaws any criticism of state?

In both cases, we're still looking over our shoulders...

The other question: do we exist in a country where playing the system can be construed as a work in progress and we can still collectively bring pressure to bear against government and make changes through civil society  / disobedience without resorting to violent revolution or fearing for our personal safety and freedom by having dissident views?

So, what is freedom really?

For me: Living without fear. And additionally living in joy. And being able to share love regardless of circumstance or the influence of any man-made policy designed to control our behaviour.

We don't have to be angst-ridden or cynical or be strapping explosives to our chests or brandishing placards on Wall Street or convincing others of our beliefs to be making a difference or to be free. But we do have to be actively involved in the process in some way that will help to ensure that we bring about those conditions through peaceful change.