In the weeks since January 25, there have been many outpourings of expression about Egypt's new destination. Joyous videos about the days of Tahrir, moving tributes to martyrs and dreams about the future have proliferated around the internet. One such video was entitled "Freedom". In it, each participant was asked to describe democracy. Each gave their opinion with much exuberance and happiness. It was clear that many had thought long and hard what participating in the political process would mean. Still, it was perplexing to see a video entitled "Freedom" equating a political process like voting with "freedom". Democracy is not freedom. It is a method of government most often chosen by free people to represent their aspirations for self government, but democracy is still not freedom. It is important to know the difference because any political process may be used to suppress ideas and oppress people, from whole nations to the smallest minority. Without the recognition of freedom, the proliferation of these ideas among the people and it's protection, through both the law and throughout civil society, the well spring of freedom can be quickly compromised; dashed upon the rocks of seemingly righteous ideologies and supposed just laws. Laws enacted by either a majority or powerful minority elected through a democratic process, when facing a weak and unorganized opposition, can oppress as easily as a single tyrant. Freedom is not about a nation breaking free of it's past international associations or treaties nor freeing itself from the remains of an old regime. Freedom is not the release of political prisoners nor the emergence of previously oppressed groups whose own ideologies and rhetoric have begun to sound less about freedom and more about being free to enforce their own ideologies and rules. Enforcement of stricter Sharia law, the suggestion for a modesty police, these are not expressions of freedom. This is using the free space created by the revolution to spread their ideology and convince people that such restrictions on real freedom are necessary to create a secure and moral society. Literally the same argument that the previous regime used to suppress people and ideas though dressed with religious and moralistic language instead of political ideology. Freedom is not just for a nation or a group of people. Freedom is ultimately about the rights of an individual citizen to be who they are, to think, to dream, to build as they see fit without suppression by either laws or forced indoctrination either of a political or religious ideology. It is one thing for an individual to seek out information about politics or religion and to come to a rational decision through the persuasion of an argument, but it is another to force such ideas on individuals or an entire people. It is one thing for an individual or group to reach out and attempt to persuade people to believe or live as they do, but it is another to use fear, intimidation or even the enactment of laws through the democratic process to demand it. This is the essence of liberty: the protection of the rights of the individual. Not the protection or projection of group rights or identities that at their very core are not free nor liberating the individual to grow and create. Freedom of conscience, politically, religiously, academically and intellectually, is the liberator of individual growth and creation. Growth and creation are the devices by which society and a nation increases it's prosperity for all citizens, remaining flexible enough to absorb set backs and using creative energy to form solutions and continue to press ever forward. This is how a nation insures its posterity for generations. This also means that there are limits to freedom. Freedom does not imply anarchy nor lawless criminality. The basis of individual rights means the protection of the individual, not only in conscience, but in body and property. No man nor body of men, whether as citizens or as representatives of government, has the right to harm or confiscate another's person or property. Even acts under the appearance of the law may be expressly oppressive. That is why it is necessary to both enshrine individual rights and liberties as well as limit the power of government in the constitution, it's language and subsequent laws. These limits must be set for every branch of government, from the executive power of the president to parliament, throughout every cabinet and department, down to the police officer on the street. The abuse of power must be considered the most heinous of crimes, regardless of whether it is some specter of the past regime or any new power that arises purporting to be the representatives of the people through an elective process. Even, in fact, to limit the power of "the people" when that power is expressed democratically through elections, but expresses undemocratic, exclusionary and repressive ideas. The only limit of the power of the people in a democratic government is the enshrinement of freedom and rights in the constitution and laws of a nation. That is why it is imperative that laws protect each citizen from theft, assault, murder, fraud, rape, harassment and intimidation to name a few. Most importantly, it must protect the right to freedom of conscience, including the freedom of speech and the freedom of religion. It must protect the right of each individual from unwarranted and illegal searches and confiscation of person and property. Without the protection of these rights, there is no freedom for the individual. If there is no freedom for the individual than there is no freedom for the people as a whole. These rights cannot be abrogated by either political or religious affiliation nor by familial ties. These rights cannot be abrogated by the power of a majority nor by the threat of violence or other acts of a minority. These rights cannot be abrogated by speech, dress or location. The right of the individual to be unmolested in person and property in every place is above any perception of morality or offense of senses. Feelings may mend and honor can be restored through many means, but physical harm and death cannot be undone. Only the law may constrain a citizen and even that law must be extremely limited to those things that are physically dangerous to persons and property, not ideas of morality or offenses to feelings. That is why the death penalty or any other use of physical punishment must be the last and most restricted power of any government or it's branches including any security apparatus such as the police or military. That is why every citizen is constrained by law against such acts of violence, either as an individual or a group that is not definitively an act of self defense from similar violence. It is the rights and freedoms of the individual that are the imperative. The protection of these rights and freedoms are the measure of a free society. When these rights and freedoms are understood and protected, from the institutions of government to those presiding over those institutions to the common citizen on the street, a democratic government becomes a powerful force for justice and a faithful representative of all of the people. When every citizen insists on their own freedom as well as the freedom of their neighbor and is willing to protect those rights and freedoms for all, democracy and freedom will work hand in hand. If that understanding does not exist, then democracy leaves freedom behind and simply becomes a method of government that a majority of people or a well organized minority may use to gain the offices of power. From these offices they can use this power to oppress any opposition and impose tyranny upon the people in the name of morality, security or under the guise of any political or religious ideology that supposes to be acting for "the good" of "the people". Egypt has experienced the lack of freedom and this very idea of oppression in the name of "the good of the people" for over half a century. It must be hoped and prayed that the people of Egypt will forbid it in their new constitution and refrain from imposing it through the democratic process of voting. This must not be only a hope and a prayer, but it must be worked towards by all those who believe that freedom is the most powerful tool of a people towards their prosperity and that democracy is the hand that protects it. Those who believe it must say it out loud and practice it every day. They must spread the word to everyone they know and they must confront oppression when they see it, even in the face of fear, whether it is an individual citizen or someone who represents authority. Knowing that as of 25 January, 2011, those who love freedom are not alone.
