Freedom is meaningful only when it is constrained by laws.
An
uprooted tree enjoys absolute freedom. There is no constraint on it.
Birds
are example of meaningful freedom. They are free to fly anywhere, but they willingly
return at the dusk to their nests.
Constraints
add meaning to freedom.
Constraints
render a greater service to us. They are protection to our life.
In
our country, India, traffic rules stipulate that we should drive by the left
side of the road. India is democratic nation. Each individual has freedom of
travel. In theory we may claim freedom to travel through any road by any side.
What will happen if people started to travel by all sides of the road without
any restriction? None will reach home safely. So traffic rules are constraints
on our freedom to travel wherever we like and however we like. But these
constraints are protection.
What
are really rules? They are constraints on our life. The difference is that they
are self imposed constraints. They are implemented by our consent and
willingness to obey. Most of them are formed after an outcry for them. Rules
are self stitched gowns we wear gladly.
All
because constraints are protection.
Rules
are discomforts to our free life. Man is born free and really wants to live
without rules. A society without man made rules is a dream of man. In famous
writings like the Republic, Utopia, etc. man express his wish for a free
society.
Man
is first constrained by divine laws. Whether we agree or not, there are many
laws that existed from time immemorial to this day without any change. No
society of any time has appreciated alcoholism, fornication, adultery, theft,
bribery etc. But alcoholics are increasing in number, adultery is increasing,
bribery still exists and so on. In spite of its naked existence, no society has
accepted it as a healthy way of life. Who made all these laws? Let us call
these kinds of laws as divine rules.
There
are social laws. We call them values and traditions. Every society has certain
values and traditions. Indian society is not as free as the Western society.
But gradually the westerners are realizing the worth of Indian social values
and traditions.
Nations
make laws for the welfare of their people and country. These are created out of
a collective conscience of the people in the nation. Democracy in my country
and in many other countries around the world offers freedom of speech. But this
freedom must not be used against our neighbor or the nation.
All
these rules are constraints on our life. Without any argument we also agree
that they are protection to our life.
There
are two kinds of constraints:
1.
Laws of the
nation
2.
Values and
traditions of the society.
Both
are discomforts.
But
they are protection to our life. Life is meaningless and unprotected without
values. A valueless life is unprotected.
Respect
values and traditions. Keep them close to our life. Observe them throughout our
life. Teach the younger generation the protection they offer and instruct to
observe it.
Professor Jacob Abraham
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