Your Voices - What Is Freedom?
Posted by The IRC on September 4th, 2007
 Photo: Peter Biro/The IRC, in Thailand |
| The International Rescue Committee first bestowed the Freedom Award for extraordinary contributions to the cause of refugees and human freedom in 1957.
Now, in our 75th year, we continue to celebrate freedom. It is the core of our mission: “From Harm to Home.” People everywhere strive for it. It’s a universal aspiration. Yet it can evoke very different meanings around the world. We are asking people to tell us how they understand freedom. Please comment and sketch what freedom means to you. Share your thoughts and read what others around the world have to say. |
![[Bloglines]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/bloglines.png)
![[del.icio.us]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Furl]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/furl.png)
![[Google]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[MySpace]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[Newsvine]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/newsvine.png)
![[Reddit]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/reddit.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://blog.theirc.org/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:43 am
Freedom is the right to speak against your government collectively or individually, and to try to change it, without any reprisals.
October 8th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
We all have our opinion on what freedom is. however it isn’t something that can be clearly defined unless you look at the restrictions on human actions. On that note, it’s pretty sad that as a race we aren’t civilized/humble enough to not have them.
Margery,
Just saying “speaking against” is going to get government irritated, how can it not? It sounds like you wanna argue rather than share your opinion collectively.
May 18th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Freedom??? I can not explain it at all…i can just say that Freedom is like a bird is living in a green garden with a peaceful enviornment thats all. From Afghanistan.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
When I teach the Cultural Orientation class to newly arrived refugees and asylees I always start the class asking, “What is one thing you like so far about the United States?” Although I always get a range of answers - at least one person in the class consistently says, “Freedom” and one more usually chimes in with, “Opportunity.” We then discuss how being free in the United States ties in to having rights and responsibilities.