There are many natural limits to our freedom, and we should respect them. We should respect the rights of others, the limitations of nature and climate for example.
But historically many of these limitations have been reinforced by human actions or rulings. Breaking some rules have led to punishment in one form or another.
This has created the idea that we are free to break rules up to the point where we are punished. But this is wrong. We are free do act only if we do not limit the freedom of others. We are not free to abuse a child, even if the child can not defend itself. We are not free to force others to defend themselves against us.
Alexander Solzhenitsyn described the Soviet society as very heavy-handed, giving the most severe punishments for small offenses or threats to the state. This was not very nice or effective.
Showing posts with label Soviet Union. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soviet Union. Show all posts
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Fall and rise 2
If we have mind based analysis, we can see the essential forces in politics more clear than if we have a standard materially based analysis.
In Soviet Union the state ideology, communism, was materialistic. It could not stand the meeting with free minds, even if the state struggled very brutally to limit the freedom of the citizens.
In Iran the state ideology is based on Islam, which is a religion and not a materialistic philosophy. What about the meeting between Islam and free minds?
First of all, the present protests are not against Islam. The question is about the outcome of the elections. Which of the two main Islamic candidates for president were actually elected?
The answer should be easy to give. All that is needed is openness, transparency and honesty. That is what free minds want. Give the facts.
On the international scene, Iran will win in authority if the present problems are solved in way acceptable for free minds.
Iran is facing an interesting period. It is an influential part in an influential part of the world. Iran should meet the upcoming challenges with a united population. That would be nice, anyway.
In the short run, a country like Israel might be amused by problems in Iran, but in the long run, the security of Israel might be endangered by a weak government trying to pacify its population by external hostility.
In Soviet Union the state ideology, communism, was materialistic. It could not stand the meeting with free minds, even if the state struggled very brutally to limit the freedom of the citizens.
In Iran the state ideology is based on Islam, which is a religion and not a materialistic philosophy. What about the meeting between Islam and free minds?
First of all, the present protests are not against Islam. The question is about the outcome of the elections. Which of the two main Islamic candidates for president were actually elected?
The answer should be easy to give. All that is needed is openness, transparency and honesty. That is what free minds want. Give the facts.
On the international scene, Iran will win in authority if the present problems are solved in way acceptable for free minds.
Iran is facing an interesting period. It is an influential part in an influential part of the world. Iran should meet the upcoming challenges with a united population. That would be nice, anyway.
In the short run, a country like Israel might be amused by problems in Iran, but in the long run, the security of Israel might be endangered by a weak government trying to pacify its population by external hostility.
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