July 4 Celebrations of the Illusion of Freedom

Dig into Freedom and See How Illusory and Limited Our Freedom Is

Jul 4, 2008

Americans are once again celebrating their freedom from British rule, but they can't yet celebrate their freedom from themselves, just like the rest of humanity

The Freedom Celebration

July is upon us, and Americans are once again celebrating their freedom from British rule. Millions of citizens will join in barbecues, fireworks and flag waving in honor of the independence of a nation whose culture is based on the concept of freedom. We have free speech, free trade, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom of information, freedom to bear arms, and innumerable other "freedoms." Yet, how much freedom do we really have?

The Freedom We Celebrate Is Illusory

The wisdom of Kabbalah tells us that the "freedoms" we hold so dear are strictly illusory. Everything that we do, from eating breakfast to voting for president, is dictated by forces outside of our control.

At first, this is a hard premise to swallow, but let's examine it a bit more. Geneticists tell us that there is a gene for everything. Genes have been linked to drug use, criminal behavior, obesity, depression, intelligence, and almost any other behavior you can name. If genes control our most basic personality traits, then where is our freedom?

Nature vs. Nurture

But genes don't tell the entire story. Psychologists have long debated the relative impact of "nature vs. nurture," or genetics versus personal experiences. Today, the consensus is that it is not an either-or proposition. The two factors are intricately interwoven and thus inseparable. So what goes into the "nurture" component? Maybe we can find our freedom there.

Searching for Freedom in the "Nurture"

Nurture starts when we are in the womb. We are supplied adequate food and oxygen, or we are not. There are the traumas of birth, and then we are at the mercy of our parents. We are helpless, and absorb the values that our parents, peers and society present to us. Good and bad experiences combine to shape our view of the world. Since these experiences are imposed on us from outside, we still have not found a source of freedom.

As we get older, we begin to express ourselves and make our own choices. Surely there is some freedom here! After all, our choices may be very different from those of our parents or society. Yet, when we examine it carefully, we will always find a social circle that is promoting whatever action we are taking. The 60s were a time of rebellion against authority. Yet the hippie culture was a strong social influence that showed teenagers the "right" way to rebel.

Freedom Is in Choosing the Society to Value

Our actions are dictated by whatever society we choose to value. Why do some people consider dog meat to be a delicacy, while others are disgusted at the very thought? Because in one case, society says that a dog is no different than a cow, and in the other, society says that a dog is a member of the family.

But maybe we have uncovered the source of our freedom in this analysis. Our actions are dictated by the society we choose to value. Kabbalah tells us that this is the sole area where we have an element of freedom. Which society do we let influence us? Whatever it is, we will absorb the values of that society. If I spend most of my time with golfers, I will eventually have an interest in golf. Otherwise, I won't continue my association with them.

This one element of freedom is incredibly powerful. Most of the early American settlers came from countries where they were oppressed. As a result, they valued freedom. In America, they joined together, thus producing a society where freedom and independence were perceived as the greatest good. The result is a country obsessed with freedom. Ironic, when we realize how limited our freedom truly is!

The copyright of the article July 4 Celebrations of the Illusion of Freedom in Kabbalah is owned by Mark Zimmerman. Permission to republish July 4 Celebrations of the Illusion of Freedom in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.