Freedom lies within rules

“The modern man says, ‘Let us leave all these arbitrary standards and embrace unadulterated liberty. This is, logically rendered, ‘Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.”- G.K. Chesterton

These words, written over 100 years ago, ring true today.  Turn on the news or read an article talking about the Republican Party and it paints a bleak picture. Some talking heads say that the party needs to change in order to elect a Republican president in 2016. Others say that the party of Conservatism is quickly sliding into the party of Libertarianism. Regardless of what is happening, we need to keep in mind that liberty is not the ultimate goal.

Lady Liberty leading the French Revolution

Liberty, especially modern perceptions, tends to be very selfish. To hear my college peers talk about it, liberty is the ability to do whatever the heck you want to do.  According to the New Oxford American English Dictionary liberty is “the power or scope to act as one please”.

This really embodies what liberty is thought to be, the freedom to do as we want. Of course, this is fine if we had full intellects and knew the effect of our actions. Yet, I hardly am able to decide which lunch combo I want at Chick-Fil- A, am I really equipped to deal with “the power to act as I please”?

How realistic is this idea of liberty? Are we really freed when we remove the arbitrary standards Chesterton mentions?

First, we need to consider why boundaries exist. After all, there is a reason the speed limit on a curved off ramp is 35 mph. Without boundaries and limitations, humans would be more self-destructive than we already are.  The limitation on speed on the exit ramp tells drivers that they need to maintain control over their cars, otherwise they will fling themselves off the road.

The same goes for political and moral responsibilities and boundaries. There is freedom in having boundaries because they allow us to know what is wrong and right. And when there is a clear difference between right and wrong, we can make a truly free choice.

Freedom is not the destruction of standards, but living within the standards and obligations that come with them. Freedom is making an informed decision and choosing between good and bad, and being able to live according to that choice.