Pseudo-freedom and real freedom
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:45 pm
[quote]Oct. 14, 2005
"You are eight years old. It is Sunday evening. You have been granted an extra hour before bed. The family is playing Monopoly. You have been told that you are big enough to join them. You lose. You are losing continuously. Your stomach cramps with fear. Nearly all of your possessions are gone. Your brothers are snatching all of the houses from your streets. The last street is being sold. You have to give in. You have lost. And suddenly you know that it is only a game. You jump up with joy and you knock the big lamp over. It falls on the floor and drags the teapot with it. The others are angry with you, but you laugh and go upstairs. You know you are nothing and you know you have nothing. And you know that not-to-be and not-to-have give immeasurable freedom."
JanwillemVan De Wetering
We all go through life believing that we have something of value to lose. Our pride, our prestige, our possessions, etc., and we go to great lengths to protect these things. The more we get, the more effort we put into protecting what we have, and the less likely we are to take any risks that may result in our losing them.
So we lock our precious things away, and ourselves with them, afraid we may say or do something that would endanger them. We become prisoners of ourselves, our own wardens and jailers. We lock ourselves away, not letting anybody know who we really are, how we really feel, lest somebody uses this against us. We become paranoid and fearful.
After all, we worked hard to get where we are and what we have. Why should we put all this in jeopardy? Oh, our families may see who we are, and some friends we feel sure will not betray us to the rest of the world, but our real selves are never seen in public. That could be dangerous.
We put on a â??Happy face,â?
"You are eight years old. It is Sunday evening. You have been granted an extra hour before bed. The family is playing Monopoly. You have been told that you are big enough to join them. You lose. You are losing continuously. Your stomach cramps with fear. Nearly all of your possessions are gone. Your brothers are snatching all of the houses from your streets. The last street is being sold. You have to give in. You have lost. And suddenly you know that it is only a game. You jump up with joy and you knock the big lamp over. It falls on the floor and drags the teapot with it. The others are angry with you, but you laugh and go upstairs. You know you are nothing and you know you have nothing. And you know that not-to-be and not-to-have give immeasurable freedom."
JanwillemVan De Wetering
We all go through life believing that we have something of value to lose. Our pride, our prestige, our possessions, etc., and we go to great lengths to protect these things. The more we get, the more effort we put into protecting what we have, and the less likely we are to take any risks that may result in our losing them.
So we lock our precious things away, and ourselves with them, afraid we may say or do something that would endanger them. We become prisoners of ourselves, our own wardens and jailers. We lock ourselves away, not letting anybody know who we really are, how we really feel, lest somebody uses this against us. We become paranoid and fearful.
After all, we worked hard to get where we are and what we have. Why should we put all this in jeopardy? Oh, our families may see who we are, and some friends we feel sure will not betray us to the rest of the world, but our real selves are never seen in public. That could be dangerous.
We put on a â??Happy face,â?
