I asked my philosophy class this question last week, and nobody could think of a single freedom they’d be willing to die for.

Then again, we’re Australians, not Palestinians. Side issue. The thing is, we’ve got so used to having all our various freedoms (plus the inevitable nanny-state limitations like having to wear a seatbelt and not being able to access information about how to commit suicide) that we can’t imagine dying for any of them. I mean, it’s just not going to come up, right?

So what WOULD you die for?

John Stuart Mill reckoned that we should be free to do whatever we like, as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else. I’m somewhat in favour of this. Drugs? Knock yourself out. Don’t want to wear a helmet riding your bicycle? Fine, crack your head open then. Seatbelts in cars? Feel free not to wear one, but if your kids aren’t wearing them, may the full force of the law come down upon you. Want to tell everyone on Twitter that vinegar cures cancer? Maybe not…

Where are you on that?

Apparently, there are countries where people don’t much care if they’re free, as long as everybody’s getting fed, watered and sheltered to an acceptable level. China. Saudi Arabia. Australia?

And then there are places like Iran, where women risk getting shot, beaten to a pulp and put in solitary confinement for the freedom to decide whether or not to hide their hair. I mean, wow! I ADMIRE those women! I think I’d rather die than wear a niqab…but then, I’m sixty so it’s easy for me to say.

Freedom or death! I mean, death…how bad can it be, anyway?

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash