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From the
Olympian Saturday, December 14, 2002
Arthur Vaeni
As a youngster, I relished winters filled with snow. Upon learning that no two
snowflakes were the same, I remember feeling such awe as I studied the diverse
flakes silently falling onto my mittened hand. How could there be such variety?
Since then, I have learned that this tendency toward variety is not limited to snowflakes. It seems, in fact, that our universe revels in variety.
So it should not be a surprise that each person also represents uniqueness. Each person brings into existence a unique expression of our shared humanity. At least, each person has the potential to do so.
To the extent our potentials are realized, life becomes that much richer. Whether or not any of us realizes our potential depends upon a number of factors, with one of the essential ones being freedom.
While individual freedom is fundamental, the value of freedom is not realized simply to the extent we are each able "to do our own thing." The true value of freedom is found when we freely gather to create a society that supports each of our unique ways of being.
Humans are communal beings. We need one another. Any one of us is more likely to fulfill our own life's promise in the company of other free persons within a society that welcomes our unique gifts.
The type of society I am imagining may sound rather idealized, but it's not that different from the one I like to think we are forming even now. The only real difference is that our society is less than ideal. Because of this, it's important for us to do all we can to remedy its imperfections.
Given the significance of freedom in the society I have described, it seems especially important we ensure that our freedoms are defended whenever they are threatened.
When our nation was formed, our forebears showed great wisdom in incorporating the Bill of Rights into our country's Constitution. The fulfillment of these freedoms would go a long way toward helping us create the kind of society I have depicted, although I do not mean to imply that freedom in and of itself is enough.
In order for freedom to be effective, there must be a healthy relationship with, among other things, security. Are we actually free to travel, for example, if our fear of being hijacked prevents us from flying?
Clearly, freedom must be held in tension with our need for security. Nonetheless, we should never assume that the relinquishment of freedom automatically translates into greater security.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, in response to the continuing threat of terrorism, our federal government has enacted laws and policies that diminish civil liberties particularly for some segments of society. It's vitally important that we not simply accept this infringement on our freedoms without a clear explanation of how it will make us more secure.
Then, assuming there is a security gain, we need to decide whether it actually justifies the loss of freedom or whether there might be ways to attain the increased security other than by relinquishing civil liberties.
Although it may not be immediately clear how the infringement of a civil liberty that does not appear to personally affect us will diminish our lives, it's important to remember we are most likely to grow into the fullness of our humanity in the company of other free persons.
The possibility of our realizing the unique gifts each of us brings to life is improved by our creating a society that respects the spirit of freedom, allowing it to flow from heart to heart and from hand to hand.
The Rev. Arthur Vaeni is
minister of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Perspective is
a coordinated by Associated Ministries in cooperation with The Olympian. The
views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by
Associated Ministries or The Olympian.
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