© AnElephantCant
Golly, did I hear you say you would be free if you could?
— Gussy the Goose, Charlotte’s Web (2006)
Would you be free? What does that mean? Does it mean doing what you like, when you like, without regard to others? Don’t our families, our culture and our governments all impose restraints on us every day?
Definition of Freedom, n,
the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action.
Merriam-Webster
If being free means leaving my home behind, shirking my responsibilities, letting others carry my burdens, then I don’t think I would be free.
home and hearth
heart beats for my family
magic ties that bind
Others talk about freedom in the governmental sense, freedom from tyranny, enslavement, unjust punishments, torture, abuse, theft and many countless other miseries. We all give up certain rights to our governments, and we want some return on that investment. If we give up so many rights and a percentage of our income, then we should get some benefits: safety, security, peace, prosperity and freedom from abuses, these are some basics people want.
freedom from tyranny
safe homes in an unspoiled land
sunshine and clean water
That is a freedom I want for everyone: to have clean water, a safe home, healthy nature nearby, no one afraid to be killed for speaking one’s thoughts. I want a world like that for my children and their children. For you and your children, too. If we all have respect for each other, perhaps we can manage that.
healthy air to breathe
nature’s abundance for all
garden in sunshine
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Inspired by Haibun Thinking Week #9, a film quote and photo from AnElephantCant.
References: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom
48 thoughts on “Be Free Haibun”
Comments welcome!
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Friendly Fairy Tales 
I’m sure that freedom means different things to different people, but there are some very selfish ideas out there in the world of what freedom means. I guess to be free of anything that drags me down and prevents me from being who I am, is what I look for in being free. I don’t wish to be bound to people, a job or even ideology that causes me to feel trapped. To be able to fly would be good too – but I don’t think I’m going to sprout wings any time soon! 😉
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I would like to be free to travel. I would love to see new places more. But only if I could bring my family with me. 🙂 Thanks for commenting, my friend. Cheers, Brenda
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This is excellent Brenda, strong sentiments and ones I agree with, freedom for all in every way. Lovely haiku as well.
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Thanks! Freedom is a word bandied about, but rarely do people stop and think through what it should mean. So often it’s used as a stick to beat others. Especially here, in the Land of the Free, where we are no more free than anyone else.
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So true Brenda shame not everyone sees it as you do.
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Can we sign a petition for this???!!?? The most developed nations on Earth, the famous G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States are meeting in the Netherlands these days…who knows what THEY will decide…again and again…But we can still dream about integrity and freedom…
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I know, I wish we could start a petition, a global one. To protect the earth for all our futures.The problem is everyone disagrees how to do that. It’s not about money, though, it’s about health and sanity.
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Exactly, my dear!!!! However, I oftenly sign petitions here:
http://www.change.org/it
The las one I signed was this one:
http://www.change.org/it/petizioni/stefania-giannini-salviamo-l-insegnamento-della-storia-dell-arte-e-della-geografia-salvarte?alert_id=zoBkhETWOQ_gzufluBzTH&utm_campaign=50957&utm_medium=email&utm_source=action_alert
about CULTURE and instruction….as we need also that…
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Yes, it’s important to add our voices. I would be so happy if my writing can contribute to educating the next generation to be thoughtful and love nature. Dr. Seuss was very political, and I think he made a difference in writing for children.
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Brenda, I would enjoy your vision of freedom, actually cherish it, and in most respects I have those freedoms, and I am grateful to live here and be able to complain when I want. I voted I have the right to bitch. But your vision is softer, more gentle, and much easier on the soul. Please take care, Bill
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Complain all you want, why not? Vent, but then find your way to a happy spot, a twinkle in your eye, a happy memory in you mind, and mischief on the menu. 🙂 Cheers, Brenda
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Lovely… Wish it for all…
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Thanks, I wish we could all stay near nature. Although I suppose not everyone likes it like I do. 🙂
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I think the way you started and led to the conclusion, was brilliant! We need you to be our ambassador of goodwill to all! Smiles, Robin
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Robin, I like that quote, be the change you want to see in the world. I’m trying to live a good life, making deliberate choices toward a larger good. Whether I change the world isn’t the point, the effort is. That’s the way I’ve come to look at it. It makes me feel less helpless. More connected and empowered. 🙂 Hugs, Brenda
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Bravo, Brenda, AnElephant stands and applauds.
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Thanks, Elephant. I’m glad you like it. Warmly, Brenda
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Heartfelt and lovely. From your lips to the world.x
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Thanks, Anne Marie, I do hope we can retain some nature as our populations grow. xx
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It’s disappearing swiftly where I live. The loss of so much greenbelt. It used to be the edge of the countryside. But there’s so much building ongoing.x
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I hope parks and wildlife sanctuaries remain. Otherwise your wild species will start to die off, too. Around here, we have a lot of wild areas preserved, with hiking trails. Some days, they save my sanity. xx
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I enjoyed reading ,Brenda. This particularly resonated with me ‘If being free means leaving my home behind, shirking my responsibilities, letting others carry my burdens, then I don’t think I would be free.’ – I’m not sure exactly why, maybe it’s a sense of love coming through those words, you love your home to the point that its captivates you, freeing you.
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Eleni, Yes, I think being bound to things you love makes you free, because after all you have chosen them, they have chosen you, and what is more quintessentially free than that? Thanks for reading, commenting and understanding. Warmly, Brenda
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Excellent! This really takes in many of the ideas and ideals we attach to the word freedom. Well thought out and a great write and read! Let’s hope many will work for the freedom of clean air and safe homes…the freedom to live in a “garden of sunshine”! Ciao, Georgia.
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Georgia, You are a delight! I agree, I hope many will work for this, too. I am doing my part in my little world, growing veggies and embracing nature, supporting nature sanctuaries. You would never guess how I love nature, would you? 😉 Warmly, Brenda
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Wow…wish I could say the same, but I’ve no land….However, I certainly would guess that you loved nature! 🙂 Hugs, Georgia
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Georgia, I don’t have a lot of land, but what I do have, I’m trying to take care of. 🙂 Even my houseplants. LOL
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Now house plants I’ve got and a few herbs too 🙂
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Then you do have land! 🙂 I have herbs, too, and I cook with them, too.
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lol…well in that sense yes…and couldn’t do without my herbs! 🙂
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This is so well written. But I have to say I got momentarily wistful at the thought of “shirking my responsibilities and letting others carry my burdens”. Maybe just for a week or so? That’d be okay, right?
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LOL That’s called a vacation, and doesn’t count as shirking at all. Being tempted isn’t a sin, as far as I know.
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Yes indeed, Brenda….I wish for that too🙋
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Yeah! I like that emoticon, fist pumping! 🙂
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yes, and what a lovely wish for all of the world )
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Thanks! What happened in Japan breaks my heart. It makes me fear for the earth.
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I like your definition of freedom 🙂
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Thanks! 🙂
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That is excellent Brenda. Freedom without freedom is not freedom.
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LOL Did I say that? I’m finally back from an epic walk with the kids and will put up the link. Hugs, Brenda
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No you didn’t 🙂 It’s what I saw that you implied though
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We can’t be truly free unless we free nature, too. And only in binding ourselves to others are we truly free. 🙂
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I couldn’t agree more 🙂
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I’m so pleased! I would hate to be the only crazy one! LOL
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Crazy is the new normal 😉
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Definitely! 🙂
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Lovely Brenda! I wish that for the world, and all of Mother Earth’s children too!! 🙂
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I love the green places, the wild places, the places where nature dominates in lovely, mushroomy disorder. 🙂
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