Freedom isn't free
a SUIT column by Chris Jungle

I've been reading Bukowski lately, so please forgive the intrusion. Every time I pick up his short stories of madness, my eyes get dirtier. I never want to be like the man. But there are many times when he'll say something vulgar and disgusting, and I nod my head saying, "The man has a point." This is not my point. My point is that freedom isn't free.

This statement rang in my ears when two Capitol policemen were shot to death. This single event tied up the news for the rest of the day, even spilling into the weekend. The news programs have since explained anything remotely relating to the shooting. When summing up the situation, one policeman said "Freedom isn't free." Of course, he meant that we have to defend our country to ensure our way of life, but I hung out with that phrase for an entirely unnecessary amount of time.

First, I contemplated the word freedom. I'm glad what we have is called freedom. When the forefathers wrote the Constitution, they were sure to use the word freedom a lot. Just think if they would have said 'tyranny' instead. This country would have turned out quite different if the first amendment contained Tyranny of Speech. I like the word freedom. I like the concept of freedom. I like to think we have many freedoms.

But like the man said, freedom isn't free. Actually I knew that before he said it. I couldn't get a copy of "Free Bird" for free either. Freedom costs. And I'm not just talking about money, although taxes are a good example. Freedom costs a lot. It means tolerating an influx of immigrants, all races, religions, creeds, sexual preferences, homelessness, inflation, job lay offs, insanity, meat eaters, smokers, everything you believe in, and everything you don't.

Sometimes we kill each other in our freedom. We kill criminals, police officers, gangbangers, innocent little girls on the playground, loved ones on respirators, wives, husbands, ex-wives, ex-ex-wives, friends, enemies, sadistic dictators, madmen, madwomen, ourselves, and God. There's no good reason for it. There are people who will only do the world harm, but there's still no good reason anyone should act on the instinct to kill anyone else.

It's such a touchy subject--this freedom. Fighting for freedom, defending our freedoms, dying for freedom. Why isn't everyone desiring freedom? According to the dictionary, freedom means liberty, frankness, and unhampered boldness (Unhampered boldness isn't free. It fits!). Who doesn't like freedom? What tortured whiny little soul thinks we should give it all up because we don't like the fact that the government screws us over on occasion. The government is supposed to screw us over on occasion! Just to remind us that freedom isn't free.

And don't get confused. Guns aren't equivalent to freedom. Trying to get a point across with a gun doesn't change people's opinions. It just means they will pay attention while you have the gun. Freedom isn't free. It costs a person shooting at policemen and tourists at the Capitol. It costs two policemen. I'm not a big fan of the police, but I can tolerate them without killing them. Hopefully, they think likewise.

I take freedom for granted as most fine Americans do. We think everything should be handed to us in annual lottery checks and complain when the garbage collector makes too much noise in the morning. I piss and moan because I don't get everything when I want it and how I want it. I talk to other people not knowing what I'm saying. I'm a big baby, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. I'm nothing of consequence. I'm usually annoying to my friends and polite to strangers. I'm taking up space that could be just as easily taken up by you. I'm one of the costs of freedom. Pay up.

Chris Jungle wouldn't mind having Tyranny of Speech as long as he makes up the rules.

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