What is freedom?

Ever feel like you're being watched? Do you feel like you are never truly alone? I wish I could say you were crazy because the tragedy of the situation is that you're not being haunted by a supernatural force of energy; reality is much less extravagant. Sadly, you are being watched by a poorly paid hawk eye who is spying on your every move.

Glad I caught your attention.

We are told that we are free. We're told that we were born into a developed country in which you have the power to control your own fate; as if it was ever yours to control. Statistics are shoved down our throats as if the government feels we are completely starved of their supposed invaluable information concerning the way we should live our lives. We follow their monotonous blue prints of how we should eat, drink, exercise, work, stay positive. Honestly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they told us we should fold instead of scrunch our toilet roll due to the economical and environmental benefits; how adorable.

The point is, can we confidently agree that we are free. Or is the term 'freedom' much too general. Because, what is freedom? Is it having the choice to scrunch or fold? Is it having the choice to become a highly respected Lord when you are from a deprived, abandoned industrial estate? Is it having the choice to be completely alone in this world?

Of course, we could altogether flip the coin on this whole article. Maybe freedom is an ideology we should be afraid of. Freedom must surely mean choice. Yet in monumental choice is the greater possibility of failure. We don't let sheep wander in a territory that's well established with unforgiving predators, but somehow we wish the government would just let us be wild. Somehow, I can see being herded into a secure pen is not all bad.

Unfortunately, being in that pen must certainly mean the same destiny for everyone? A destiny in which all life within the enclosure is stripped of worth then left to die. Slightly dramatic metaphor that puts a long working life into perspective but I'm sticking by it. Is the sacrifice of twenty sheep worth the utter excellence of one.

I can never see myself being at peace with this issue. I am certain I wouldn't appreciate being abandoned on a lone island and told superiorly 'freedom is all yours'. I can appreciate that with fewer choices in this world, their are fewer chances I can land flat on my face; it's a secure safety net. With the exception of the inevitable 'but'. Will anyone ever feel genuinely emancipated from their leaders?

Who am I to say...

Kind regards,

Klinkmillie.

In freedom we turn to sin

When we look at seemingly troubled children who's the first people we blame? Almost instinctively we look to the parents or legal guardians as if it could be nothing more than a series of bad parenting and lack of attention. In the split second that we are throwing silent accusations, we don't stop to think of other factors that may affect how that child behaves. If you haven't already caught on to the stench of this article I am simply discussing the contentious 'nature vs nurture' debate.

To you, this topic may seem exhausted and over discussed but I am compelled to the variety of different arguments and opinions that can convincingly argue on either side of the case. Because of this, surely we must conclude that nature and nurture equally affect the way in which a person behaves; yet I still feel that this can surely only swing one way.

It's true; of course a personality and common behaviour is affected by both genes and surroundings. However, I find myself almost certain that 'nurture' plays a bigger role. My overall opinion is based on this philosophy; in freedom we find sin. Put simply, bring a child up in an environment dominated by drugs and other adultery and let them free into that world, the logical outcome would be that the child turns to the sins that surrounds and drowns them.

But this is where some doubt creeps in.

Bring that same child up in a positively intellectual surrounding where everybody achieves educational excellence you can't guarantee the same outcome for that child in the same way. This must mean that some aspects of the brain rely on inherited genes more readily e.g. intellectual capabilities and other parts are more greatly affected by the development at early years and beyond.

I wish I was able to bombard you with statistical evidence that could convincingly conclude either way but the fact is (pardon  the pun) that there is no statistical evidence out there! It is obvious to see that this tiring debate will be continually discussed until it can be proved and will certainly continue to intrigue me and others around the world.

Kind regards,

Klinkmillie.