What does freedom mean to you?

IN-PERSON MEETING

Topic: What does freedom mean to you?

According to Wikipedia, freedom is defined as either having the ability to act or change without constraint or to possess the power and resources to fulfill one's purpose. How do you define freedom? Do you think most Americans take their freedom for granted? Are there any particular "freedoms" that you feel more passionate about than others? For example: freedom from pain, freedom of expression, freedom from tyrany, or freedom from bullying? If your ancestors had their rights taken away, you are probably more aware of the volatility of freedom.

Some great subjects for discussion are Viktor Frankl's theories on freedom which were revealed to him as a prisoner at a Nazi concentration camp:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Man%27s_Search_for_Meaning

Maya Angelou's book "I know why the caged bird sings" is an autobiography she wrote to free herself of her own inner demons which had been haunting her since she was raped by her mother's boyfriend when she was 8 yrs old.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Know_Why_the_Caged_Bird_Sings

John McCain - Can you imagine what it would feel like to wake up everyday in a POW camp overseas? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_life_and_military_career_of_John_McCain

George Orwell's book 1984 in which everything you do can be seen and used against you and your freedoms are extremely limited. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Eighty-Four

Movies: If you've seen the movie Cool Hand Luke you may have identified with his adventurous spirit when he escaped from jail. Or maybe you saw the movie Shawshank Redemption and identified with Tim Robbins or Morgan Freeman's characters. The Minority Report deals with themes similar to 1984.

Let's free our minds by being greatful of our freedom to express ourselves as we learn what freedom means to others.

Note:

Please note that an aim of this group is to engage in dialogue not debate. While maintaining the freedom to be ourselves and honestly state what we think and feel, we want to generally do so in a civilized way. In dialogue, there is an emphasis on listening to understand, in debate one listens to find flaws and to counter back to win or convince.
In dialogue, an open exploration is primary, in debate one only reaffirms and protects one's own point of view. Dialogue explores assumptions, conclusions and/or beliefs in open consideration, Debate defends assumptions, conclusions and/or beliefs as fact and or truth.

Additionally, an emphasis in this group is to be aware of one's own immediate and direct perception and experience as opposed to simply referring to what someone else has said. Narrative or knowledge considered to be "Facts" are welcome but not to be taken without checking in with ones own direct, immediate experience. This emphasis is meant to encourage one to go beyond a mere intellectual or conceptual "knowing", to a more holistic or healing awareness and experience.

Freedom of thought and expression are valued greatly. There is no designated expert, no guru, no leader/facilitator per se. Diversity of perspective and opposing points of view are frequently expressed and the value of each person expressing their point of view is acknowledged.

What is, or what is true or meaningful is a theme often explored in dialogue at our meetings. As are thoughts related to life, self, awareness, consciousness, perception, thought, relationship, love, compassion and the like. These topics often arise in one way or another, either directly or indirectly. Also explored frequently is the meaning of the words in the group's title - dialogue and experience.