Freedom (a Definition?)

People think that success comes from overcoming the obstacles of life, such as getting a good job, having a loving family, leaving behind a legacy of some sort. This success leads to freedom.

Is this really true? What is freedom? During the "glory" days of America, when the number of immigrants arriving was overwhelming, when it was the "American dream" and success that led to the influx of opportunity-seekers searching for the "Liberty" of America. (Liberty is the opportunity, freedom is the supposed result). What was it they actually came for? Nowadays American freedom is the success in a monetary/materialistic way, but I think that true Liberty comes from having the opportunity to overcome those obstacles.

You see, the melting pot in the late 1800s was caused by the "free" opportunities in the growing American economy. These foreign peoples came from places that were oppressive, where whether they had the ingenuity and entrepreneurship didn't matter, they obeyed the higher orders of the social system and government. They came to America to seek the ability to seek that elusive success. They were free to not only yearn for it, but actually attain it. Obstacles are always the same, yet freedom is the ability to overcome them.

We have the same obstacles and goals: earn our bread, leave a legend, improve society. Instead of giving freedom to attain the obstacles in a fair and moral way, actually working for our own well-being, our society oppresses those who are fortunate in their endeavors. America as the people allows "freedom" in the form of incentives like health care, graduated income tax, and such, in favor of the laziness and apathy of this generation.

The Liberty isn't the outcome, it is the process. If we have the society-recognized "success" forced upon us, and that is a form of freedom (it is free for those who don't succeed), but not true liberty. It's slavery.

Now I am not saying that parks, education and all that is bad, I'm just saying that if the people want it, let them pay for it themselves. Let a person take it upon themselves to lead an organization for free healthcare; teach true morals, don't suppose that all humanity is stupid and evil (more on this another day); and return the government to its rightful state. The only "laws" should be those controlling negative interactions between two parties, not endless regulations trying to appease everybody, and so displeasing all. The Declaration of Independence was on one (1!) piece of paper, the original Bill of Rights had what, ten amendments? The congress can't even know what a bill says now, since they are all 2000+ pages!

Just something to think about.
Is where this country going actually towards liberty and opportunity?
Thanks for listening

Here is a good video I found recently (pardon for the language):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zqOYBabXmA&feature=related

Another Year

Ever wonder why everybody celebrates New Year in January? For me at least, everything is starting again NOW.  The calendar might say September, which might only be another month, but instead, once again I fill my time. Is this the last year of the same? Is this a start of something new? Maybe an end? All of those combined? Really time keeps flowing: we live until we die. We don't start a year perfectly fresh, but with all the past experiences, whether joyful, or sorrowful, we continue on. Someday might be the last, but for now, keep it up, you've only just begun!

Lawn Mowing Fun

"Just a spoonful of sugar" sings Mary Poppins in the movie, "Helps the medicine, go down, the medicine, go down." But really, try it. Have fun in everything you do, and in so doing, the "job's a game." My favorite way to have fun while mowing the lawn is to make shapes and squiggles and zig zags in the grass. Not only does it look pretty amazing, but it adds variety to the monotonous back-and-forth of "regular" mowing. So take the spoonful of sugar, and the job will go by twice as fast. Jazz life up and try something new, because fun isn't just for kids.

Nature's Heroes

During the 4 hour car ride for my recent vacation, I decided to write a poem about the forests of dead, decaying, and regenerating trees. Thought it turned out kind of cool.

I pass a field of fallen heroes
Broken and battled, but still standing
Through fires and storms
They still provide a bird's landing

Beaten and weary,
The poor remainder,
Survivors of nature's fury
The once proud contenders

Ambassadors of the forest,
Having lost their colors
No more mothers
No more fathers

Returning to the ground
From whence they came
Giving room to newcomers
To take on the name
  
Oak, Maple, Beech and Pine
Which once stood high, proud and fine.
Years, decades, of regeneration
Leads to renewal, life, resurrection

Andrew J. Mattson