Non Serviam
Welcome to Myself, Unfettered, a site dedicated to the exploration of individual freedom, and what that means to, well, different individuals. Each month, we'll be highlighting a different aspect of freedom, though not restricting ourselves to that aspect alone. This first month, December 2007, is dedicated to the power of "No".
According to Milton, it was the Devil who uttered the phrase, "I will not serve.", stating it is better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. Certainly, it is a common tool used by various authority figures, this association between rebellion and evil. When the powers we respect convince us disobedience is akin to heresy, they trap us into a form of slavery just as real as if we were chained and whipped.
9 December, 2007
Human Rights Day - 2007
As many people may (or may not) be aware, December 10th marks Human Rights Day, a day on which we celebrate the anniversary of the International Declaration of Human Rights, as adopted by the United Nations in 1948. [Visit the UN's Human Rights Day 2007 page here].
This year's theme is "Dignity and justice for all of us", and regardless of one's personal feelings as to the efficacy of the United Nations, it's hard to see how this theme could be seen in any other than a positive light by anyone who believes in the inherent rights of the individual, or in promoting a peaceful and prosperous planet for all individuals.
2 December, 2007
Telling Myself No
All humans of sound mind and body have at least one thing in common: we can tell other people to go to hell. There are all sorts of situations in which this choice of words might not be appropriate, and of course there are always repercussions for every action we take, but still, we can do it. Telling a person, business entity or government to "go to hell" is really just a colorful way of saying "no".
When we tell someone "no, I won't do what you ask," or "no, I won't work under these conditions," or "no, I won't stay in this abusive relationship", we are attempting to negate someone else's power over us; we're exerting more control over our own lives. Yet, when someone else says no to us, we often see it as mindless defiance or pig-headedness.