The Meaning of Freedom – USA Gov Policy

We are pleased to present this guest editorial from U.S. Army Chaplain Don Zapsic (ret.)

Freedom, a.k.a. liberty. What does it mean and how much does it really matter? Most people associate freedom with patriotic displays such as flag-waving, marching bands, and anthem-laced sporting events. Articulating a working definition of freedom beyond feelings evoked is as daunting a task as a necessity. For without proper understanding, there can be little awareness of incremental encroachments upon inalienable rights nor an adequate appreciation of why such liberties should be defended at all costs.

A great challenge to stirring a free people’s passion for liberty to ensure its continued preservation lies in understanding the fundamental difference between personal autonomy and inherent responsibility. To regard freedom simply based upon personal needs and wants means that I am free to live as I choose (autonomy) as long as I don’t infringe upon the rights of others. The obligations of citizenship, however, compels an individual to look beyond his or her own situation to consider that of others as able to do so.

Is freedom prospering in America or in retreat? History points out that freedom is never so a popular a subject as when under attack. Nazi Germany and Communist Russia effectively employed propaganda with devastating results to enslave entire nations promising prosperity while delivering misery. The promotion and passage of the Affordable Care Act serves as a more recent example of how propaganda reduces freedom to mere servitude. It turned out to be little more than a sophisticated rouse utilizing statecraft to massively redistribute wealth from producer to consumer thru the iron fist of socialism in the name of democracy.

Doctrinaire proponents of social justice are quick to endorse the methodology of
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Plato’s “noble lie” to further enlighten the so-called ignorant masses thru benevolent deception. The underlying belief is that the end will justify the means thereby facilitating a materialistic society’s moral development. Such utopian-style thinking is also an assault on freedom as pointed out by F.A. Hayek in his classic book, “The Road to Serfdom.” Hayek maintains that moral development can only take place where the individual is free to choose, “sacrificing personal advantage to the observance of a moral rule (p. 216).”

Perhaps one of the greatest impediments to preserving liberty at every turn lies in the prevailing attitude that somehow freedom is a done deal. Freedom indeed is an inalienable right, but also a privilege only to be enjoyed by a society with enough patriots willing to stand at the ready and fight when necessary while others relax. The Preamble to the Constitution implies that freedom in America is a work in progress encapsulated in the phrase, “in order to form a more perfect union.” Such a union is a perishable commodity always in flux, sometimes closer or further away from the ideal perfect union worth striving for at all times.

Does freedom really matter? Only to those determined to take responsibility for their own lives void of undue interference. True patriots are not interested in suppressing the views of others and are tolerant of contrary opinions respectfully promoted. They care about people without carrying the able-bodied. Such individuals actively engage in “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” not surrendering deeply held beliefs and values when threatened by political correctness bullies. Even more importantly, a true American stands up to tyranny whether a thug on the street, judge in a black robe, or elected official who would rather rule than represent.

U.S. Army Photo

Quick Analysis

Russia Expanding Aggression

President Putin is using more than one pathway to enter Europe and undermine the West. While most of the world watches the conflict he initiated in Ukraine, the Russian government is actively pursuing a second front in a little noticed campaign in Cyprus. Although the corrupt Cypriot government ended its issuance of “golden passports” in 2020, Russian intelligence is functioning quietly there to transform this EU country into a Russian beachhead of illicit economic activity aimed at penetrating the capitalist West, according to Paul Goble of the Jamestown Foundation. Cyprus is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) nor does it receive as much attention as those countries who are member states. That adds to its allure as a prime location for Russia to attempt to gain a European foothold. Last week a NATO report, cited in the European Daily Monitor, noted that Russian intelligence agents have been plotting to destroy European infrastructure across the continent to disrupt states supporting Ukraine. It further suggests that Putin’s immediate goal is to lay the framework for a future move against the security organization’s members. Hungary, in particular, is another country garnering Moscow’s attention as it opposes the Western response to Russian aggression. Russia is focusing its intelligence efforts on other European, non-NATO member countries in addition to Cyprus, including Austria, Malta, and Ireland. The NATO report suggests that Moscow has had success in disseminating the Russian political narrative in these states to advance its campaign against the West. The island of Cyprus is proving to be a good target for Moscow as it is an ethnically divided island that is part of the EU since 2004. Northern Cyprus, officially called the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), is a de facto state that is only recognized by Turkey. The division precludes it from joining NATO. As Goble suggests, “it offers Russia troubled waters in which to fish.” Over the last 20 years, he points out, Cyprus’ challenges have opened it to a massive influx of Russian citizens, who now comprise approximately 10 percent of the island state’s population. Over 2,900 residents are Russians who entered until the “golden passport” program that allowed wealthy or well-connected Russians to move to Cyprus. It also provided them with documentation to travel freely throughout Europe! Although less visible on the world’s radar than the war in Ukraine, Moscow is also being helped by Cyprus’ banks opposition to seizing Russian assets and its support in evading Western sanctions. Russia has placed tens of billions of US Dollars there for money laundering. It has been more than two years since a single Russian “diplomat” has been deported and, in fact, the Embassy has grown to over 300 staffers on this tiny island state of only 1.2 million people. The Russian embassy in Nicosia has advanced communications antennae on its roof and opened a consulate on the northern end of the island. Moscow’s Ambassador, Mura Zyazikov, is a lieutenant general in the FSB with no diplomatic experience. The FSB, SVR (Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service), and GRU are actively using the island as a base of operations against NATO Member states, Israel, and other Western allies. Moscow backs pro-Russian political parties who in turn influence Cypriot decisions on education, language, and other issues. “Dmitry Khmelnitsky of the Dossier Center says that its findings should be of concern not only to Cyprus but to the West as a whole. Those who ignore what Moscow is doing because Cyprus does not follow the EU sanctions regime are missing something critical,” says Goble. “Cyprus does not seek to get rid of Russian agents and does not interfere with their work,” Khmelnitsky concludes, “despite the fact that what the Kremlin is doing is so clearly visible.” This has an impact not only on the small island but on the EU, NATO, and the West in general. Earlier this year the Moscow Times reported that when the FBI became more interested in Russian business and oligarchs in Cyprus, at least 10 of the major Russian businesses operating there left. Despite the government of Cyprus’ vow to implement plans for new sanctions against Russia, it continues to ignore Putin’s atrocities in Ukraine and to shield the wealth of the 50,000 wealthy Russian citizens and oligarchs residing there. Daria Novak served in the U.S. State Dept. Illustration: Pixabay