Freedom to be Happy

We just passed Memorial Day.  I did not post criticism or support, because even though I am a Veteran that joined and served for protecting freedom, much of the use of the military has been using soldiers to promote economic or political goals or to enrich political or weapons groups.  So, I don't have a position AGAINST soldiers, and especially soldiers that served in older wars I have great respect for the freedoms that they did defend.  HOWEVER, we don't always see that goal in the mindset of those that are in power ordering them in recent decades.

Indeed, freedom has taken a back seat to partisanship and media crusades in recent years, and this is true on both sides of the major party spectrum.  It's one reason that I don't align myself with either party.  It's not a battle for freedom versus control.  Both have groups they want to have freedom and groups that they want to control.  Me, being in the middle along with many independents, we get to expose the hypocrisy of both sides of the political spectrum.  

So, while people chant and sing patriotic hymns for a weekend twice a year, they turn on their heels within hours to identify what people SHOULD and SHOULD NOT be ALLOWED to do... more on the should not than should.  However, EITHER is one person making a decision about what another person may do, prompting the questions of where they got authority to decide that and more directly how freedom is maintained within it.

Take Trans people, for example.  Groups on both sides have recently came out to battle against them... or more precisely.. battle against their FREEDOM to wear what they want to wear and do what they want to do, suggesting that their freedom must be restricted if it is in the presence of someone that disagrees.  If that is the case, no one should be allowed to do anything, anywhere... since we will always have critics.

Then.. and to break the Google and social media ban on mentioning Ukraine's war (for obvious point in this article), if you speak about the Ukraine war, you are subject to being shadow banned or more for doing so.  If you suggest that while Russia was and is wrong for their part in the war they do have a point that the area they occupied was Russian favoring people that asked for Russia to come save them from daily rocket attacks... you are suddenly THE ENEMY for having a differing opinion.  There is a lot of that going on in the last decades.... condemnation of people for simply being different than the politically approved text or standard.  

Of course, being an INFJ like I am and an independent, I have offended countless people for speaking uncomfortable truths about the church, the GOP, the DNC, the media, the vaccines, the wars, and so much more.  If I haven't said enough code words to get this post banned, let me just add questions about Scripture, religion, hedonism, and wealth.  But, I do have the gift that many do not have... the peace to be able to say what I feel and do what I want to do... you know... freedom for which our soldiers died.  I hope for you all the same freedom to pursue your own happiness, however that happiness looks to you.