FREEDOM LTD
On a whim, I did a search on 'freedom' in Google today. The first entry was about making the most of your last night of freedom with amazing stag and hen parties (Freedom Ltd). Then Wikipedia, obviously. And then the Freedom Group of Companies (specialising in utilities). We also have Freedom Recruitment, Freedom Press, Freedom Lager and Freedom Insurance. All on the first page.
I don't know what I was expecting. A little 'Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite' perhaps? A little political or philosophical discourse on the nature of freedom? Not a list of commercial companies. But, after all, it's not that important, is it? After all, we're all free in the democratic West. We have freedom of thought, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, of religion, freedom of movement, of association, of assembly. Don't we?
I have a (admittedly tentative) theory that we are only free if we subscribe to the ethos of the propertied classes. That private ownership of property is de facto 'a good thing'. That the acquisition of material wealth is a worthy aspiration. That tying ourselves into a cycle of material gain through the loan and saving of money brings us greater freedom through prosperity.
But what if we choose (or are born into), in SG parlance, an alternative lifestyle? Are we still as free? When a group of Roma pitch up in an English village are they greeted with open arms? Or are they seen as a blot on the landscape; dirty, possibly criminal? They'll have the tools out of your shed as soon as your back is turned, and look at the mess they leave! Those children should be in school! Sound familiar? The contempt of the propertied class for those who do not subscribe to their ethos.
In the 1640s, as the English Civil War raged, new concepts of politics and belief were aired throughout the land, naturally couched in religious terms. The belief that God had given the land to all humanity as a common treasury, and from that the idea of communal living, working together to the benefit of all. The first 'communists', in fact. The rejection of the clergy, as radicals insisted that no-one had the right to act as intermediary between a man and his God. Naturally, the gentry who had supported Parliament in its war with the Crown, were horrified at such concepts, and turned to Cromwell to restore stability, which he did with brutal effect. 'Freeborn John' Lilburne, who agitated for freedom of belief and equal rights for all, was tried for treason, in the face of his massive support. Tickets were thrown during his trial saying
'And what, shall then honest John Lilburne die!
Three score thousand will know the reason why.'
In the Peasant's Revolt of 1381, the Lollard priest, John Ball preached 'When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman?'. For there were no class distinctions in the Garden of Eden. For his pains, he was hung, drawn and quartered, his eviscerated innards burnt while he still lived in front of the 14 year old King Richard II.
We don't execute agitators these days. You can threaten to bring down the government and take all property into common ownership with impunity. As long as you can't actually achieve it. And you can't. For we have now all bought into the belief that true freedom is our house, our cars, our HDTV, our vacation in the sun, our nuclear family, and little interference by State or others on our vision of liberty. It doesn't take much effort really. The comforts of material wealth are, after all, very seductive. And adverts these days don't sell products so much as lifestyle choices. And, as long as we are fed the diet of aspiration and attainment we require, we may not notice we are trapped in the prison of our own freedom.
As long as the council makes those damn gippos move their caravans.
On a whim, I did a search on 'freedom' in Google today. The first entry was about making the most of your last night of freedom with amazing stag and hen parties (Freedom Ltd). Then Wikipedia, obviously. And then the Freedom Group of Companies (specialising in utilities). We also have Freedom Recruitment, Freedom Press, Freedom Lager and Freedom Insurance. All on the first page.
I don't know what I was expecting. A little 'Liberte, Egalite et Fraternite' perhaps? A little political or philosophical discourse on the nature of freedom? Not a list of commercial companies. But, after all, it's not that important, is it? After all, we're all free in the democratic West. We have freedom of thought, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, of religion, freedom of movement, of association, of assembly. Don't we?
I have a (admittedly tentative) theory that we are only free if we subscribe to the ethos of the propertied classes. That private ownership of property is de facto 'a good thing'. That the acquisition of material wealth is a worthy aspiration. That tying ourselves into a cycle of material gain through the loan and saving of money brings us greater freedom through prosperity.
But what if we choose (or are born into), in SG parlance, an alternative lifestyle? Are we still as free? When a group of Roma pitch up in an English village are they greeted with open arms? Or are they seen as a blot on the landscape; dirty, possibly criminal? They'll have the tools out of your shed as soon as your back is turned, and look at the mess they leave! Those children should be in school! Sound familiar? The contempt of the propertied class for those who do not subscribe to their ethos.
In the 1640s, as the English Civil War raged, new concepts of politics and belief were aired throughout the land, naturally couched in religious terms. The belief that God had given the land to all humanity as a common treasury, and from that the idea of communal living, working together to the benefit of all. The first 'communists', in fact. The rejection of the clergy, as radicals insisted that no-one had the right to act as intermediary between a man and his God. Naturally, the gentry who had supported Parliament in its war with the Crown, were horrified at such concepts, and turned to Cromwell to restore stability, which he did with brutal effect. 'Freeborn John' Lilburne, who agitated for freedom of belief and equal rights for all, was tried for treason, in the face of his massive support. Tickets were thrown during his trial saying
'And what, shall then honest John Lilburne die!
Three score thousand will know the reason why.'
In the Peasant's Revolt of 1381, the Lollard priest, John Ball preached 'When Adam delved and Eve span, Who was then the gentleman?'. For there were no class distinctions in the Garden of Eden. For his pains, he was hung, drawn and quartered, his eviscerated innards burnt while he still lived in front of the 14 year old King Richard II.
We don't execute agitators these days. You can threaten to bring down the government and take all property into common ownership with impunity. As long as you can't actually achieve it. And you can't. For we have now all bought into the belief that true freedom is our house, our cars, our HDTV, our vacation in the sun, our nuclear family, and little interference by State or others on our vision of liberty. It doesn't take much effort really. The comforts of material wealth are, after all, very seductive. And adverts these days don't sell products so much as lifestyle choices. And, as long as we are fed the diet of aspiration and attainment we require, we may not notice we are trapped in the prison of our own freedom.
As long as the council makes those damn gippos move their caravans.
VIEW 5 of 5 COMMENTS
wsoxfan:
I neglected to respond to your most recent thoughtful comment on my blog. As always, your caring and concern mean a lot to me.
kmk:
it is time for you to post a new blog, tee hee! kiss. kmk. 
