The Freedom to Say NO

Many people seem to not understand what freedom is. Freedom, in most people's minds, is the opportunity to do things which are granted or protected by laws, especially things which allow fleshy desires - such as gambling, sexual expression, or using profanity. This, believe it or not, has nothing at all to do with freedom. In fact, they have all to do with suppression and lack of will.

Laws, in a sense, are restrictions of freedom. The more laws we have, more restraint, more oppression. Laws are specifically written for those who have no ability to act without restraint.

Some also say that when laws grant rights, this grants freedom. Sadly, it is not the case. In fact, it is the lack thereof. Sadly, people do not realize that for every right given, there is a price. That price...is loss of freedom. Let us say, for instance, people had a right to a computer granted by law. The one who imposes the law (the government, in this case) now has the legal means to control that computer and how you use it. That is not freedom, in any sense. That is control taken out of your hands...and put into someone else. Take another example, driving. When you commit to drive legally, you are loosing freedom because of it - not only do you have to follow the rules of the road, you are penalized when you go against it.

Freedom is not only the ability to choose for yourself, and not worry about an outside hand forcing you to a conclusion...but the simple ability to say, "No." That's right. It's the ability to control yourself, and not being forced by someone to make the decision for you. It is a shame so many people are slaves - not only by making laws for themselves, but lacking control of themselves. They usually find some excuse why they can't do it themselves. Sometimes, they blame it on a bad past. A tendency, or a defect. It is not being able to control your own choices. This...is living as a slave.

The Jedi today, in effect, tend to act like slaves themselves. Sometimes they like to believe we have to make orders and laws just to make them. That way, we don't have to be responsible for our choices. We go by the laws, and if the laws are bad, we can blame them instead of ourselves. Besides, who has the time to search the answers themselves, or learn self responsibility? Takes too much time and effort. We are willing to sacrifice our freedom to choose our own path, just for the convenience of a guiltless system.


Trusting the Force

In all, this really has to do with trusting the Force. Instead of trusting the Force, we are lead to trust those who create complex orders for us to follow. Long, descriptive orders are telling us, "Look...you don't have control, and you don't have the ability to make good choices. Therefore, we need to make all these orders to tell you what to do because you can't do it yourself."

Is this what Jedi are about? No...at least, as far as what a Jedi represents in character. But then, again, some people think the Jedi title has more weight then the responsibility behind it. Some of us are so busy attempting to earn a title, instead of training ourselves to trust the Force and gain wisdom in doing it.

In truth, are we willing to trust the Force? Are we really? Willing to trust the Force to guide us instead of our own restrictions...imposed against our own selves? Do we really have the freedom to make "No" decisions...or do we now not even have the ability to make right choices...and need to have orders and laws to tell us what to do.

Please, though, do not misunderstand what I say. Orders and laws are not good or bad, they are tools. If they are guiding us to things we do not have the ability to choose of, or control, and is advocating a dependency on our own relationship with the Force, then it can be practical.

But these are very often used not only a scapegoats, but used as a burden...of dependency.

Let us learn to trust in the Force. And when things come that we cannot control, we rely on the Force for guidance. For things we can control, let us learn to say "No." Let us learn to say, "You do not have control in how I live as a Jedi. I am not forced to cater to others while denying my beliefs. The Force is my ally. The Force is my strength."

"I am free."

And that, my friends, is freedom.

...Jedi Relan Volkum

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