I'm watching Ken Burns American Stories, the one about the Statue of Liberty...

[WCGreen]

According to the on-line dictionary available at Ref Desk, Liberty is first defined as...

The condition of being free from restriction or control.

The second definition is described as...

The right and power to act, believe, or express oneself in a manner of one's own choosing.

It is sometimes interchangeable with freedom.



The question arises who defines liberty? Or rather, how would you describe or define liberty.


I have always viewed Freedom as a complicated relationship between the state and the individual. By that I mean we all enjoy the freedom to act upon our ideas, beliefs and desires as long as they don't hinder or harm another persons right to act upon their ideas, beliefs and desires. This is where the state steps in. By acting as the collective of all of us, they set, theoretically, the boundaries of freedom as the many ideas, beliefs and desires mingle.

Please ad your ideas of Liberty or Freedon.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. Freedom is...

Living where you want.

Marrying who you love.

Getting an education.

Living in a safe community. And here I mean not just free from crime, but also free from hazards, such as pollution or disease.

Traveling where you desire.

Living in peace with your neighbors.

There are so many ...I cannot think of them all.

You've said it so well here: We all enjoy the freedom to act upon our ideas, beliefs and desires as long as they don't hinder or harm another persons right to act upon their ideas, beliefs and desires.

K&R