Fourth of July reflection: What does freedom mean to you? – GoErie.com

Staff report| Erie Times-News

Thoughts on freedom shared during Juneteenth celebration

Slam poet, Alex Brown, shares his thoughts on the concept of freedom during the Juneteenth holiday celebration at Ypao Beach Park on Saturday, June 19, 2021.

Rick Cruz/PDN

What does freedom mean to you?

As this Fourth of July holiday arrives, it's a good time to reflect on the past 15 months of COVID-19 lockdowns, vaccines, social unrest, a contentious election season and our own various setbacks and successes in the daily rhythms of life.

Take a breath and reflect on freedom and its meaning in your life. Someof your neighbors already have. Here's what they had to say:

My parents are labor camp survivors. Theyimmigrated from Ukraine and Russia (separately) to the United States after World War II. They were classified as "displaced" people without a country. So I am a first-generation American, along with my six siblings.

Growing up, I saw their past experiences in their eyes, actions and spirit. They had determination to make the best of what the United States could offer. Yes we struggled. Times were tough, but we learned that freedom is what choices we choose. There were standard rules in society but also freedom to explore and create.

My mother, EugeniaLiniewicz, turned 93 on Flag Day. She always felt lucky to have that day as this countrys honorable flag day. We work hard and love this country and northwestern Pennsylvania.

Nadine Comeau, 60, Millcreek Township

Freedom is the societal obligation we have to all of the other members of our society to not infringe upon their ability to realize their concept of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So, it is our mutual respect for each other in realizing these tenets, as long as we are not infringing on others' abilities to do the same. Therefore, first and foremost, freedom is not the release from rules of any sort but the obligation to respect each other's beliefs and the realization of those beliefs within our daily lives as long as one is not impeding the ability of another to do the same.

The only way to solve the majority of today's problems is to invest in them. That does not mean to subsidize parts of society, the environment and or the economy but to pay (for) them either a true value for their "labors/contribution,"i.e., at least the value of a human life with dignity.

So, let's start remembering that our economy was invented to create and distribute wealth, not to centralize it.

Bruce Kibler, 64, of Millcreek

At 18, I left my small town about an hour outside of Pittsburgh to bowl collegiately at the Division I level in Brooklyn, New York.I was lucky enough to land an internship at a forging company in the Pittsburgh area. I was never exposed to manufacturing beforehand, but once on-site, I fell in love (with it).

Freedom is the opportunity to educate yourself and pursue your passions. I think it's really cool to have the opportunity to learn, which took me to Brooklyn, New York (for college), and brought me to Erie (for work). Every day I try to learn something new. I had the freedom to acknowledgemy dreams and follow them.

Taylor Smith, 22, Millcreek Township. Marketing coordinator for Onex, Inc.

If you ask what "freedom" means, most will say it's the ability to do what they want. According to Dictionary.com, its "an absence of undue restrictions and an opportunity to exercise one's rights and powers." This is short-sighted. It should include beliefs, responsibilitiesand conscience. Freedom allows people to believe what they believe and to live accordingly within reason.

What I experienced during the pandemic were undue restrictions. To appear to be doing something, officials invented new restrictions. More significantly, citizens neighbors took on the role of a high-ranking government official, parent, masteror god, declaring, Thou shalt not ... ! using verbal abuse rather than entreaty or good argument to convince those around them to change their behavior.

My issue wasnt with whether or not to wear a mask. My issue was with the swiftness with which my freedom and my equality were denied by those who chose propaganda and power over persuasion, and control of others over control of themselves. Had I attempted to impose my beliefs on them, they would have called me a monster. But the imposition of beliefs is always justified by the imposer and freedom is forfeit when power and control sing their siren song.

Karen Keil, 59, Erie

Freedom starts in the mind and in the heart. The Good Book says, "and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:32)."With this foundation, the happenings of all life's experiences are made much lighter. The real race is life.

Gary Amsden, 83, Erie

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Fourth of July reflection: What does freedom mean to you? - GoErie.com