Fifty-nine

The Greater Good

Paraphrased from an article by Marcie Bianco

What is the difference between liberty and freedom in the eyes of many Americans?

Absolutely nothing.

And therein lies not only the problem driving the culture war around coronavirus shelter-in-place orders but also arguably the crux of all fronts of America's culture wars; from guns to religion to speech to now, it seems, haircuts.

"Give me liberty or give me death!" so goes the universal whine, lifted from Patrick Henry's Virginia Convention speech in 1775. Leaving aside the obvious reply, there is an irony in the protesters' call for liberty that inspires me to reach for another popular quote from American culture: "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

Because, my fellow Americans, liberty does not mean what you think it means.

Liberty is a type of freedom defined and limited by civil society. It is not an unrestrained, unchecked license to do whatever one desires. Rather, liberty is a right constituted by the nation one lives in.

This is perhaps why the Declaration of Independence does not once mention the word "freedom" but instead champions the "inalienable rights" of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness".  And the preamble of the Constitution mentions "liberty" only in the context of forming a more perfect union.

And yet, as the quarantine protests make clear a popular, yet factually and legally inaccurate sentiment, has infected the minds of many Americans. To paraphrase, it goes something like this: "This is America and I am free to do whatever I want!"

But, actually, no. You can't. Americans must abide by laws, regulations, and codes that range from their towns' garbage collection rules to the federal law declaring that 18 is the legal voting age.

The general and patriotic spirit is that collectively, as Americans, we will follow these laws to promote and ensure the general welfare of all of the people of the United States.

Without a doubt the tension between liberty and freedom resides at the very foundation of this nation. It is a tension that has widened into an incredible and increasingly partisan chasm between "the good of the people" and "the good of the person."

But, instead of indiscriminately crying freedom or liberty to defend one's assumed rights what might happen if we were to understand liberty as a freedom that holds us accountable for the welfare of the nation and all of its people?

Might we then be able to form a more perfect union?