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DEL.ICIO.US“Freedom Project still raking in responses”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He didn’t know if he’d even get a response from the former defense secretary.
Donald Rumsfeld surprised Alex Robson, though. He included a typed note in addition to his answer to Robson’s question:
“What is Freedom?”
“Your project reminds Americans how fortunate we are to live in a nation of liberty,” he wrote, “and how blessed we are to have men and women willing to step forward and defend it. It is important that moms and dads, and the brothers and sisters fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, know that we at home value their great sacrifice to our nation. Keep up the great work!”
Robson, 18, plans to.
Nearly two years ago, he started the Freedom Project. Via letter, he and a couple of friends at Georgia College and State University contact people and ask them to define freedom. To ensure a broad perspective, any and everybody gets included.
When Robson and I talked recently, an apology was the first thing out of my mouth after “Hello.” See, I wrote about the project in mid-October, after I got a request and self-addressed stamped envelope. It’s still on my desk. He understood.
“It’s a big question,” he told me.
In the past two months, the names of new contributors impresses. Among them: Ted Turner, the tycoon billionaire; Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African peace activist; and Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who wants to be president.
Now, the public can view some of the responses. The Freedom Project will have a booth at the annual Taste of Mill Creek and Craft Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Mill Creek High - Robson’s alma mater.
The most thought-provoking answers will be on display. Some will be selected because of name recognition, like former president Jimmy Carter. Others will be heroes Robson thinks people ought to know, like Medal of Honor winners and members of the Triple Nickles, the first black U.S. paratroopers. He’ll display letters like Rumsfeld’s and have a stand so people can fill out their own cards.
In the future, Robson would like to start a nonprofit so that he can give out scholarships. By next year, he hopes to recognize a student from every county high school who writes the best response to his question.
“It will be based purely on the merit of what somebody thinks of freedom,” he said. “There might be 10,000 scholarships out there, but so many students don’t have the right scores or something. With this, it won’t matter if you are C student or an A student.”
For now, though, he’s still posing his question.
He plans to contact athletes of defunct Negro League baseball teams. And he’s already preparing letters for every sitting U.S. governor, senator and member of the House of Representatives.
“It takes a long time to find all the addresses, and it’s just two of us,” said the freshman English major. “We’re working in between finals.”
And doing as Rumsfeld asked.
Other responses can be found at www.definefreedom.com.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
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By Atlanta Pearl Girl
December 12, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
Freedom is the right to ‘be’.
It’s so funny…… being in the South freedom seems to be one with race and it’s not.
Martin Luther King Jr taught us that AMERICA & FREEDOM is NOT about Blacks or Whites…but about People with RIGHTS which translates into freedom!
I think it’s gotten a bit skewed as it goes along..
By Tom Thomson
December 12, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this
Freedom is the most expensive possession that anyone can ever have. It is paid for with the blood and the lives of those who make defending freedom their commitment, either for a short time or for the totality of their life. They also pay for freedom with their families when they must deploy to some God-forsaken Hell hole so they can engage, on their turf, those who would deny our freedoms and not have to defend our freedoms on the turf of our Homeland. They pay for freedom by being separated from those they love for months or even years. They pay for freedom, by working in an organization that calls for them to give up many of the very freedoms they choose to fight and die for to ensure you and I will never have to relinquish our freedoms. They are the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen who make up the United States Military. * If you want to see the price of freedom for yourself, you only need to visit the hallowed grounds of the Arlington National cemetery, the Punchbowl crater National cemetery, the military cemetery outside the city of Luxembourg (where General George Patton still lies before the hundreds of soldiers interred there), or many of the other military cemeteries throughout the world that are the final resting places of men and women who left our country to defend freedom, and who *never came home again.
In short, there is nothing more true than the oft stated saying that, “Freedom is not free.” It is the most expensive commodity on the face of the Earth.
By Dan
December 12, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
Be careful what you wish for Atlanta Pearl, rights must be bestowed, which means rules and inevitably creates lines of inclusion and exclusion. Real freedom is more properly defined, as the absence of restriction and with that necessarily comes the acceptance of responsibility. One cannot exist without the other
By srschirm
December 12, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
I’ll let you know when I live in a free place.
Freedom to me is being able to do whatever one desires as long as no harm is done to others (non-aggression principle). However, we no longer have that ability in this country.
By Dan
December 12, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Srschirm, Everything is relative though of course you wont find any other country in the world with more of what you desire than here
By dk
December 12, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
This would be a great question for the candidates! Notice how they do not talk about freedom, its always couched as “for the children”, “for the poor”, bla bla bla. I get one life and my freedoms have been eroded by those who do not want to be free and want others to take care of and plan their lives.
By Charles
December 12, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
Given the Constitution of the United States of America or another comparable document, freedom for any group of people is the ability to adequately service the individual basic needs of the masses, food, clothing, shelter, education, employment, security, etc., without the assistance of other groups of people or nations.
A poor white person from Appalachia can travel anywhere in the world and is afforded the same respect as Bill Gates upon sight. White people are free and have power so that respect is automatically transferred by other people to the least of white men and women in the United States of America.
A wealthy African American from Washington D.C. can travel anywhere in the world but is given the same respect upon sight by other people as the average person from Bowen Homes would receive. The wealthy African American is usually perplexed and believes the problem is racism.
People throughout the world consciously or subconsciously know that African Americans as a group do not have power or freedom; neither does any individual of that ethnic group.
By West Coast
December 12, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
Real Simple: True freedom is found only in death.
For the living we have varying degrees of freedom. And it is not inalienable and automatic like we have fantasized. Freedom is only as good as your ability to secure it. The US has more of it than other places because we tend to have more money and a powerful military.
Without those two things, there isn’t much freedom. And the Constitution, as wonderful as it is, is only a man made, written document. It means nothing until folks decide to uphold it.
By Dan
December 12, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
Actually West Coast I think if you look at history objectively it is pretty clear we have more wealth and power because we have more freedom not the other way around. For 2000 yrs the quickest transportation was by horse. 200 yrs after a government was created of mostly free men we have space travel
By Scooter
December 12, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
The ability to choose is liberty and the ability to reap the full rewards or consequences from our liberty… well that is freedom.
By Aurora
December 12, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Freedom FROM religion. And not being forced to acknowledge any God. Being able to believe what I want to believe. Not what some crazy person wants me to believe.
My, but the race card was played the very first post. It usually doesn’t show up until noon.
By Rachel
December 12, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
I homeschool my kids and decided to ask them, ages four and six, what freedom is. Sometimes the insight of a child is amazing and my four year old said, “Being able to listen to the music I want to listen to,” but my six year old said, “Being able to vote for a president, deciding whether we go to church or not, and being able to play with any of the kids that I want to be my friend.”
It’s simple, but it’s right on.
By Charles
December 12, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
It’s so bizarre. When thinking credible men or women voice an undeniable truth of what freedom and power is, soft minded persons tend to interpret it as playing the race card; unbelievable.
By Corey
December 12, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this
No religious bullying/infringement.
By Teresa
December 12, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Whom the son sets free is free indeed!
By Sad
December 12, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
Aurora, You comment about the race card being thrown out, what about your atheist anti religion comment, knew that was soon to follow. Sad to think that freedom to a person is only being able to believe in what they want. What a freakin idiot. You live in a society based on morals and values you moron, otherwise you would be dead in the street. Where do you think those come from, so enjoy your religous freedom, but reap the rewards of a religious based country. Freakin Idiot
By kindred
December 12, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
To srschirm “I’ll let you know when I live in a free place.” DITTO — Unfortunately that place will likely have to be somewhere uninhabited by other humans who are often a detterant to achieving the goal of true freedome ;)…..
By Charles
December 12, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
If a nation or group of people is able to service their basic needs adequately, food, clothing, shelter, education, employment, etc., and if the Son, Jesus, sets an individual within that people free, you are free indeed.
Jesus was no fool. Can I admonish the wicked and in the next sentence beg for food, clothing, shelter, employment, education, justice, etc. for me and my children?
By Airborne
December 14, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
Alex,it was nice talking to you.I think what you’re doing is very commandable.Don’t let the negatives get in your way.I’m a member of the Atlanta Chapter of “The Triple Nickles” and serve as Public Relations and Historian for the chapter.We will be more than happy to have you come to our next meeting.”Airborne”
By Airborne
December 20, 2007 3:54 PM | Link to this
Aurora,let me tell you something,while in the military i spent some time in a communist country,there people had no rights or freedom. Until you’ve experianced what it’s like not to be free,then you should think about what you say.As of now you’re just a spoiled person who is use to having their way.Take your views on a vacation to a country that has no rights,then come back and tell me the differance.Many lives were gvn to gv you the right to say and believe whatever.Gv consideration to those that are protecting your rights,better still instead of whinning,join the military and help your country to keep your freedom and the right to believe and do whatever.Don’t sit back and live in the comfort of someone’s son whose life is on the line everyday.My son went to Iraq,i was in Viet Nam,my father was in Korea,my uncle was in ww2,my great-grandfather fought at the battle of san juan hill,my great-great-great-grandfather fought in the civil war.I owe them a lot,what have you done for your country lately to protect your rights?