Liberty of Mind

Get Outlook for Android From: John Ames Birch Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 3:05:58 PM To: justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>; Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca <Chrystia.Freeland@parl.gc.ca>; dujarric@un.org <dujarric@un.org>; Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca <Jagmeet.Singh@parl.gc.ca>; jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca <jason.kenney@parl.gc.ca>; jedmiston@nationalpost.com <jedmiston@nationalpost.com>; jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>; actso@naacpnet.org <actso@naacpnet.org>; accredit@gov.ru <accredit@gov.ru>; ASKUS <ASKUS@novascotia.ca>; Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <Yves-Francois.Blanchet@parl.gc.ca>; beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr <beril.aktas@hurriyet.com.tr>; contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>; correspondence@council.nyc.gov <correspondence@council.nyc.gov>; ctvottawa@ctv.ca <ctvottawa@ctv.ca>; doug.fordco@pc.ola.org <doug.fordco@pc.ola.org>; david.penberthy@news.com.au <david.penberthy@news.com.au>; dir_enq@cso.gov.hk <dir_enq@cso.gov.hk>; English@mail.gov.cn <English@mail.gov.cn>; education@nasa.gov <education@nasa.gov>; edumitru@amnesty.ca <edumitru@amnesty.ca>; Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca <Francois-Philippe.Champagne@parl.gc.ca>; fkalmbach@theadvocate.com <fkalmbach@theadvocate.com>; GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca <GlobalOttawa@globalnews.ca>; govpress@la.gov <govpress@la.gov>; HaveYourSay <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>; info@bnn.ca <info@bnn.ca>; news@skynews.com <news@skynews.com>; news@thelocal.se <news@thelocal.se>; nytnews@nytimes.com <nytnews@nytimes.com>; News@KelownaNow.com <News@KelownaNow.com>; media@gatesfoundation.org <media@gatesfoundation.org>; Ames348@gmail.com <Ames348@gmail.com> Subject: Liberty of Mind (opinion) Hey Everyone, What does it mean to be free? How do you quantify freedom, is it the ability to choose or change your mind? Many of us live in what are called free countries, places that pride themselves on open and democratic societies. Have you thought about what that freedom means? what it costs?. We hear stories from our veterans about the fight for freedom and the trauma of war. We look to our militaries to keep us safe and to secure those freedoms for us. These brave men and women place themselves between us and danger to keep us and our future safe and secure. Liberty is not only secured by our militaries but by the sacrifices of our citizens that support our militaries. The actions or inactions we take either help to solidify our freedoms or dismantle them. Over our history we have struggled to understand liberty in relation to the individual and society. We create new laws to evolve that ideal and dismantle old laws that threaten that ideal of liberty. We create rules and regulations to secure our society and at times sacrifice some liberties to secure our safety. Within these actions we come to understand and evolve our ideas of freedom. We create organizations to safeguard our people and borders to ensure liberty endures. What does liberty mean? Is freedom the ability to decide our fates? To choose who we are, where we go and which gender we love? Is true liberty beholden to the actions of the one or the will of the masses? What can you do when the options presented to you offer choice but not liberty? How do we ensure freedom and liberty while keeping our society from the edge of anarchy? To me, liberty is the ability not only to choose outwardly but inwardly as well. To have a mind unburdened by bias or expectation. A mind that understands that true liberty comes from within. It matters not who you are, where you live or who believes them to be your better, you are not beholden to anyone but yourself. They can take our dignity, they can break our bodies and minds but they cannot break our spirit unless you let them. In this life we face many obstacles and challenges. Some of us face inequality, adversity or atrocity. Through these hardships we must remain steadfast in our defiance. The will of the human spirit is strong. Within us lies a memory of liberty passed down generation by generation, carried forwards by the defiance of our forbearers. An echo of the past carried forwards through ancestry as a reminder of who we really are. Many in this life will try to change you, remake you or break you but you must not let them. Remember who you are, remember that no one can break you unless you give them that power. The power of your spirit, your willpower, that defiance, is yours and yours alone. Within you lies thousands of ancient voices calling to you to spark the flame of hope anew, to stand for what's right and just when all others have fallen. Listen to that echo, that crescendo of consciousness calling to you from the past. That voice, that spirit of defiance that helped shape our people generations past will carry you forwards. Each time you listen to that voice you join that crescendo by adding your voice to that echo. Each new voice adding strength to that spirit of defiance. That spirit standing in opposition to anyone or anything that threatens our liberty. We must each ensure that the voice we add to that crescendo is ours and ours alone. Many in this world will try to steal your voice and make it their own. Through Television, music, art, literature or even social media they will try to co-opt your voice, don't let them. It is up to each of us to discover our voice, our words and speak them. No one on earth can tell you who you are, that is up to you to discover. Find yourself amongst the noise and confusion of the world and scream peacefully if you must. Your voice, your thoughts, your spirit is where true liberty is found. The Liberty of Self, of identity of consciousness, is a freedom that they can never take from you even of they take everything else. Each of us holds more power than we realize and once we stand together as a chorus, we can change the world. Stand as one peacefully, Liberty must never die. Keep Dreaming, Stay Loving, Keep Going. Stay Safe, Stay Sanitized and Stay Supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2