Freedom. The word holds so much meaning and symbolism. The common dictionary defines it as “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.” A fair definition. But, if we were to pick the word apart and take it back to the roots, what does the word really mean?
Before we go there, first, a story. One of the first recorded American spies to gather intelligence about the British during the Revolutionary war was a young soldier in the Continental Army. Just 21 years old and Yale-educated, Nathan Hale stepped forward when George Washington asked for a volunteer to accept a highly dangerous assignment. Weeks after Hale slipped behind enemy lines disguised as a schoolmaster and had gathered critical information relating to the military plans of the British, Manhattan was taken by the British. Hale, attempting to cross back to American-controlled territory, was captured with incriminating evidence. He was questioned by the British general William Howe and deemed worthy for execution. He was hung the next day. It is rumored that when asked if he had any last words to say, his were, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
Wow! What courage! When faced with a seemingly impossible task and then forced to face the ultimate sacrifice as a result of accepting the challenge, Hale was dauntless. Where did he form this conviction? What kept him steady when facing mortal peril? It came down to a choice. His choice to sacrifice. His choice to remain loyal. His choice to keep a commitment. His choice to give more than he received. His choice to be free.
The word “freedom” is derived from the Old English term “freodom,” which is defined as “power of self-determination, state of free will; emancipation from slavery, deliverance.”
The power of self-determination? State of free will? The origin of this word definitely points to the idea that freedom is more than “the power or right to act or speak.” It is the result of an individual shaping and molding his or her will to assume the state of being free. Freedom is a choice.
Certainly the roots of freedom form deep within the souls of individuals who know that they are “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” And certainly we are blessed to live in a great nation that believes that to “secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” The unification of the choice to be free with fair and equitable governing institutions (powered by the governed people), is where freedom will thrive.
At CHOICE, we know firsthand the incredible power of freedom. When children are allowed the ability to choose, to make mistakes, to sacrifice, to lead, to follow, and to struggle, real soul building happens. The byproduct? A generation of children who know the true power of freedom and who have the tenacity and wherewithal to fight for it, just like Nathan Hale. Freedom is definitely a choice.