Impossible to quantify, but it certainly seems that the word 'freedom' is used far more in the States than anywhere else.

Every other word is freedom- free this free that free from free to!
Might I suggest that the more someone uses this word the less free they want you to be and are themselves.

I know, I'm just bitter and twisted about America declaring itself free from British taxation tyranny, but listen out for the word. It crops up a lot!

Its frequently an empty gesture.

My favorite embodiment of freedom is traveling on foot for days, staying at hostels, b&b's, and pubs. britain is excellent for this.

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"My favorite embodiment of freedom is traveling on foot for days, staying at hostels, b&b's, and pubs. britain is excellent for this."

I met my wife whilst doing this in Nepal.
We are going to do the Coast to Coast walk in her 50th year. [www.tripadvisor.com]

Today (July 4) is hardly the day to gripe about the use of the word freedom.

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If you don't stand for something, you'll probably fall for anything.

What's next? Complaining about flags? Your timing is impecable.

careful, some people's sense of patriotism is very fragile and it cannot stand the most basic question

Hey, it's a free country.

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swampy
Today (July 4) is hardly the day to gripe about the use of the word freedom.

Apparently censorship of discussion is OK on the 4th.

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Comedy Central: Best news channel that isn't a news channel.

Fox News: Best comedy channel that isn't a comedy channel.

of 76

[www.youtube.com]

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Gutenberg
Hey, it's a free country.

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"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

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swampy
Today (July 4) is hardly the day to gripe about the use of the word freedom.

We founded this country SO he could say anything he wanted to. You are the bad guy in trying to stop him - on this day, July 4th, of all days.

Funny thing I don't remember you extending this freedom to me. Any day. In fact what I remember are cries of "get lost".

That's because you misinterpret any criticism to your trollish comments as censorship. You need to stop being such a selfish individual.

This is an exceedingly stupid thread.

We are all less intelligent for having seen it.

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[www.flickr.com] [picasaweb.google.com]

Weird! The righties have just gone through a tizzy about why the latest Supreme Court decision is a descent into socialist tyranny, but when somebody semi-agrees with them, they go ape. In this case, it wasn't even that much of an agreement, just a comment about using the word freedom tritely. American history scholars and people who stayed awake through the first 12 years of public schooling know full well that the Constitution and its application have involved a continuing debate and evolution over just how free some people get to be, and others not so much. I think we are a lot freer as a people than back in 1621 or 1861, and you can find the amendment that defends the voting rights of females to be fairly recent. In other words, if you use the word carefully rather than just jingoistically, it is a little more complicated. In fact, if you go back to when William F Buckley was fairly young and just getting into it at his magazine National Review, you will find a conservative argument against extending full freedoms to minorities. Buckley and Barry Goldwater opposed the various civil rights acts on the basis of the rights of individual states to set their own rules. It took a fairly massive paradigm shift to reach general agreement that fundamental freedoms are to be taken as universal, as opposed to yes in Ohio and no in Biloxi.

I think that what the word refers to in terms of 4th of July celebrations is the absence of foreign control over our lands. We are not answerable to any foreign king or occupying power. At the time leading up to the American Revolution, the king was not considered to be foreign, but by 1776 and the Declaration, the colonies redefined the British king as a foreigner, and fought to defend that definition and all that it entailed.

I think that the word that is most misused as an epithet is "cowardly." It became a synonym for cruel, evil, and bigoted at the time of the September 11 attacks, even though that is not what the dictionary definition intends. But it became the epithet of choice, with a subtext that attacks on civilians by subterfuge is unmanly. It's not the biggest issue on my list, but it did cost Bill Maher a job on a television network when he got a little pedantic about dictionary definitions.

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swampy
Today (July 4) is hardly the day to gripe about the use of the word freedom.

They were griping about the inappropriate, hypocritical, and insincere ways in which the word "free" is often used. Surely a comprehensive discussion of the true, deep meaning(s) of the word and how it ought to be used is exactly the right sort of discussion to be having on July 4th.

"This is an exceedingly stupid thread."
Indubitably.

"We are all less intelligent for having seen it."
To be fair we all lose a little and gain a little in most threads here. Rare is the thread that maintains a high intellectual standard.

Freedom is a serious issue. The word is hideously overused in America to the extent that it can mean anything and everything depending on the bent of the user.
Yes, at this time of year it is all about Americas ability to have no other country dictate law here, but when the laws of the land create fundamental inequalities, it doesn't seem like it kept its freedom for long.

Actually Uncle Wig, I think we are long overdue an actual debate about the meaning of freedom here.
I said before that the way American politics is formatted there is precious little space for free and public debate. Everything is timed and scripted.
Bush was spreading 'freedom' all over the shop.
How about a free and honest debate about the meaning of freedom in a public forum?

Buckley is a clever @#$%&.

Cabob, what are the big issues on your list?
Cowardly is a good one. I don't know that I would call someone who is prepared to kill himself to further the ideas he believes in, cowardly. Misguided might be better applied. Maybe stupidly brave.

And thanks to America for the right to free speech (sorta kinda) and for those here who afford me mine.

Quote
Manlove
Impossible to quantify, but it certainly seems that the word 'freedom' is used far more in the States than anywhere else.

Every other word is freedom- free this free that free from free to!
Might I suggest that the more someone uses this word the less free they want you to be and are themselves.

I know, I'm just bitter and twisted about America declaring itself free from British taxation tyranny, but listen out for the word. It crops up a lot!

Freedom Fries flies. It needs nurturing and has been getting precious little of that lately.

if the USA is a "free country," try driving at 100 MPH and tell the cop who pulls you over that, as you also tell him you don't need insurance or a driver's license... because you are FREE.

an overused word, IMHO. not that it doesn't have its place, but it's not carte blanche to do whatever the hell you want.

and i'm not sorry for using a French term. suck it up.






Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2012 08:52AM by decay.

Let me save you some time. Before it is all over, freedom will be defined here as having a living wage, free healthcare for all and lifetime job security. So instead of waiting 12 more posts to get there, I just told you. Move on.

No one said absolutely and unfettered free.

---

Kooper's Flute Thing cover

[www.freethegrapes.org]

norwegian wood reality TV

[www.youtube.com]

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Avenger
Let me save you some time. Before it is all over, freedom will be defined here as having a living wage, free healthcare for all and lifetime job security. So instead of waiting 12 more posts to get there, I just told you. Move on.

i hope you don't really believe that, and you're just being silly...

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[www.giyf.com]

Bush misused "freedom" as an excuse to invade Iraq, and I think that's probably most of the genesis of what the OP is reflecting on (would be interesting to know when he emigrated.)

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

this explains a lot - [www.youtube.com]

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Worse than the misuse/overuse of 'freedom' is the new definitions of 'bravery/cowardice'

Was Ca Bob's reference to Mahr about the 'bravery' of the 911 terrorists?

I don't remember the details, but SOMEONE took objection to the constant reference of the terrorist that flew into buildings as 'cowards' citing that it take s a great deal of bravery to intentionally fly into a building.

The flag-wrapped 'patriots' went ballistic and great shouting matches erupted everywhere (DM forums as well).

People just couldn't handle the idea of evil badguys showing bravery... that evil badguys are cowards by some new definition.

yuck!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2012 11:24AM by hal.

Those angels on the beach were kind of creepy in a cheap horror movie kind of way.

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"Stop thinking about art works as objects, and start thinking about them as triggers for experiences." ~ Brian Eno

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mattkime
this explains a lot - [www.youtube.com]

a-MARE-Uh-kuh


Good lord. What was that?

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mattkime
this explains a lot - [www.youtube.com]

i wonder if all of that guy's clothing, including the shoes, were made in the USA ...

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[www.giyf.com]

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mattkime
this explains a lot - [www.youtube.com]

Wow. All expectations surprisingly exceeded.
Thanks for that.


And for those of a nervous disposition, please don't read too far down the comments on that page!

That was special. I love the way you can tell from the moment the guitar enters that the guitarist doesn't really know how to play the guitar . . . . and the little pelvic thrust when he says "I'm with you in a different way."

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MR/F Guestmap: [www.mapservices.org]

AMERICA!!

[www.youtube.com]

watch out for the "featured" thumbnail when it's finished!!

---

[www.giyf.com]

Quote
decay

Quote
Avenger
Let me save you some time. Before it is all over, freedom will be defined here as having a living wage, free healthcare for all and lifetime job security. So instead of waiting 12 more posts to get there, I just told you. Move on.

i hope you don't really believe that, and you're just being silly...

If you don't know that you need to read The Handbook again.

Quote
swampy
Today (July 4) is hardly the day to gripe about the use of the word freedom.

I don't see why.

Quote
Avenger

Quote
decay

Quote
Avenger
Let me save you some time. Before it is all over, freedom will be defined here as having a living wage, free healthcare for all and lifetime job security. So instead of waiting 12 more posts to get there, I just told you. Move on.

i hope you don't really believe that, and you're just being silly...

If you don't know that you need to read The Handbook again.

jolly good!!

[www.thehandbook.com]





Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/05/2012 02:12PM by decay.

I've waited this long, so if no one else is going to post it:

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. And nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free.

---

Alpharetta, GA (Atlanta suburb)

Quote
rgG
I've waited this long, so if no one else is going to post it:

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose. And nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free.

I admire your patience.