The vulnerability of right to freedom is certain in our society. One’s liberty is curtailed to a large extent and instability poses a serious threat to individuals’ life. The infertility of democracy in Afghans’ prolific land is a matter of concern. Fundamentalism and ideological stereotypes inflict irreparable loss upon our nation. The day-to-day violation of right to life and liberty makes the national and international news. Furthermore, unnecessary social and cultural barriers aggravate the problem.
Freedom has been construed and practiced in many ways in our society. Some folk exceeded social boundaries and ethical codes and interpreted freedom to be a situation free from all restrictions. Others practiced their lives within the frame of cultural norms and moral values.
Abraham Lincoln puts it as, “The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep’s throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act, as the destroyer of liberty. Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty; and precisely the same difference prevails today among human creatures.”
We have been longing for freedom voraciously. Freedom to express our thoughts, to act without restrictions, to walk without boundaries, to do what we want without the mood of being told to do what is right. In other words, freedom has mostly been misconstrued; empty of moral values and responsibilities. We have walked to freedom, however, “made missteps along the way” without admitting. Moreover, we did not only make missteps but also went the wrong way feeling a great disdain to ask a guide the way to freedom.
I believe that freedom is normally tailored to human societies on the basis of their social mores and cultural norms. For instance, a secular society will not favor a freedom within the religious frame and vice versa. Similarly, American-style freedom will be in serious conflict with the freedom agreed upon by Afghans – on the grounds of cultural and social varieties. However, freedom from violence, cruelty, honor-killings, etc. will be agreed upon collectively, since they are based on moral standards, regardless of one’s race, color, beliefs and so on.
We have failed to remember that “with freedom come responsibilities.” Whenever we claim for liberty, we have to shoulder a series of responsibilities in the society. In other words, there is a limitation for freedom. Besides using our rights, we are responsible to respect the rights of others. So, we are supposed to use our freedom in the frame of law otherwise we will trample upon others’ rights. Nelson Mandela puts it as, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”
Much is said about freedom, but little is done to bear the desired fruit. Despite the democratic system, people suffer from lack of freedom in one way or another. Lack of tolerance regarding others’ race or beliefs is a motivating force behind violation of right to freedom. In other words, one’s blood is spilled simply on the basis of ideological, racial and sexual issues. This really outrage men’s conscience.
A large number of women are chained in the frame of unnecessary cultural restrictions. Some believe that the four walls of kitchen are far more honorable for a woman than engaging in social activities in public places. Traditional beliefs, which stem from lack of knowledge, hold stronger sway in villages. To put it succinctly, a number of women are bereft of their right to freedom and live under the subjugation of their male partners. After all, their dignity is highly prone to transgression and some fall the victims of honor killings every once in a while – and the perpetrators usually go unscathed from prosecution and fair trial. Hence, some women are doomed to bear the brunt of restrictions within the confines of home. Their heads are banged on the wall; their lips are lopped off for the oral protest against their male partners and they are used as a punching bag to live an obedient life.
War and violence are great factors behind curtailing the public’s social freedom. One is not sure how the fate will play with him/her while getting out of home for daily activities. A student may lose his/her life on the way to school or university, a workman will die in an untoward explosion, a family’s bread-winner will be amputated in a bomb blast and a commuter will suffer the same fate on the way to work – these are part of daily life in Afghanistan.
These issues do not necessarily belong to physical restrictions, but people also suffer from lack of freedom of thought and freedom of expression. The burgeoning violence against journalists and reporters demonstrate the same fact. They live a critical life for uncovering an ugly issue – mainly regarding an influential person. I have no doubt about the sterility of democracy in the country.
Thomas Jefferson puts it succinctly: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are life, Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, - That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the Governed….”