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MguyX 
"X marks the spot"
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 Posted - 06/28/2007 : 09:37:21
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With the upcoming July 4th celebrations upon us, I wax patriotic and give you . . . freedom.
There is a terrible beauty in the image of Paris, crying. She symbolizes both the ugliness and the beauty of freedom.
Paris Hilton was released from jail yesterday, in an insignificant event covered, both eagerly and reluctantly, by the entirety of Western media. Two network outlets were outed for trying to pay for the interview, from which they quickly shied away. After listening to her �uncompensated� interview with Larry King, I am confirmed that she is just a child with too much money and no real aspiration.
Paris is an icon. Her name invokes the treasured memory of a city that helms a country to which this country owes its independence. Her reality mocks the creation of a country that owes a debt of gratitude to a city that helms a country to which this country owes its independence.
The United States of America is both the flagship and the poster child for freedom. It actualizes and mocks the ideals of what it means to be free. I love the principles for which my country is constituted to stand. This land has come to mean the promise of a free world, where people are free to make their own way, unencumbered by the dictates of a single personality or ideology. But we suffer from the efforts of single personalities and single ideologies to plunge us into the pseudo-freedom that they dictate.
The irony in my selection is an old and tired observation. This country evolved from the heroic efforts of the upstart colonies of Britain to forge a way for themselves. I do not fault Britain for subsidizing the colonies' birth. Nor do I fault that great country for trying to keep them within the realm (though there may have been some circumstances that exacerbated the willingness of the colonists to break free from what they considered an oppressive government -- and Thank You -- France -- for helping the colonies to start, and to achieve, the implacable force of civil rights, which even the colonies' successors would and must contend with and continue to refine).
I even forgive that black stain upon this Constitution that allowed the enslavement of my ancestors. Because this country, at least � and too long after its parent soverign did the same � abolished slavery.
But the product of our captains of industry are weak. Freedom has left their progeny weak, and unable to captain this ship. What happens when a weak soverign captains the helm? �The garboard strake leaks, the seams need caulking . . .�
Freedom has its blessings; freedom has its curses. It built a country of promise. It created a country of institutionalized terror. It spawned a country where I can plant a banner in my yard that criticizes its excesses. It houses an amalgam police force that watches me, and you, for the purpose of forwarding freedom, with the threat of even secret incarceration.
The hallmark of freedom is the individual spirit. It is the upheaval of spirit against the system that spirits create. The system that spirits control.
That the parents of Paris would allow her to obtain only a G.E.D. ("General Eduducation Diploma," or as Chris Rock would say, a "Good Enough Diploma" -- meaning she failed to complete even high school in the U.S. [not to mention, abstained entirely from even attempting college/university] )is a travesty to parenthood. What does one do with so much money? It is a blessing, and a curse, and a trap for the uninformed. Freedom means the freedom to help the world, or at least your fellow man, to do better.
With great power comes great responsibility, says Uncle Ben. And it does.
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Cheese_Ed 
"The Provolone Ranger"
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 12:43:31
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You are all free to post your own avs at www.fwiffer.com
This week I'll have limited web access, so please add as many as possible on your own. Also expect late results and no reminders to vote, as I'll be back late next Wed.
Enjoy the 4th if you're celebrating early like me! |
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tortoise 
"Still reviewing, but slowly."
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 13:10:01
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Well I wish I could be like a bird in the sky
How sweet it would be if I found I could fly
Oh I'd soar to the sun and look down at the sea
Then I'd sing 'cause I'd know
How it feels to be free
Words & Music by Billy Taylor & Dick Dallas
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Sean 
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 13:16:51
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Stalean
"Back...OMG"
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 16:30:07
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"The Hoff," seemingly, Looking For Freedom, #1 in Germany and #3 in Switzerland. Come on, Jump In [His] Car, he wants to take you home! 
What are your plans for the 4th? I will be enjoying watching my, almost, 8-year-old granddaughter perform in a July 4th parade. |
Edited by - Stalean on 07/04/2007 00:41:28 |
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Sludge 
"Charlie Don't Serf!"
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 17:46:01
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Actually, I picked this avatar before checking in on the contest, but it seems to go with the Paris deal.
Yeah, buddy, that's his own hair.
I am not following the Spector trial and can't guess about the verdict. Lana Clarkson was in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but was not included in the accolade as her character had already graduated.
A crime has arguably been committed with this hairstyle, but it may serve to keep prison rapists at bay. |
Edited by - Sludge on 06/28/2007 17:48:53 |
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RockGolf
"1500+ reviews. 1 joke."
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 19:02:24
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| I had to enter this contest just to say thank you to MGuyX for his terrific essay on Freedom. Whew! |
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TitanPa
"Here four more"
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 19:49:26
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Actually. In America, Freedom is celebrated about a Month earlier by some people. July 4th is just the second celebration.
(just 2 more months til Teachers and Students lose thier Freedom again  |
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w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 06/28/2007 : 23:46:22
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Avoiding any and all controversy regarding it, I give you the Freedom Tower, being built at the site of the World Trade Center.
Kudos to MguyX for a terrific essay! |
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GHcool
"Forever a curious character."
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Posted - 06/29/2007 : 05:52:21
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For this contest, I am honored to present to you all my personal favorite of the Founding Fathers: Benjamin Franklin. Franklin represents the concept of freedom to me for the following reasons (in no particular order):
1. He signed the Declaration of Independence.
2. He wrote numerous essays, speeches, and even drew cartoons arguing for independence in the colonies.
3. He went on several diplomatic missions in Europe to turn the dream of American independence into a reality.
4. Aside from literal freedom from England, he strongly believed and advocated for other forms of freedom such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc.
5. Toward the end of his, he wrote essays supporting the abolition of slavery in the United States. |
Edited by - GHcool on 06/29/2007 06:19:21 |
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Sean
"Necrosphenisciform anthropophagist."
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Posted - 06/29/2007 : 09:15:36
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quote:
Originally posted by MguyX
Paris is an icon.
Let her eat cake. She needs it. |
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Cheese_Ed
"The Provolone Ranger"
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Posted - 06/29/2007 : 14:10:03
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| Land of the Frie(sian), Home of the Bra-ve. |
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Koli
"Striving lackadaisically for perfection."
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Posted - 06/29/2007 : 14:46:41
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How could I not respond to an invitation as eloquent and powerful as MGuyX's?
Les toilettes: Liberte, fraternite, egalite
Excuse me while I change...
Freedom, and our right to it, is used to justify all sorts of things, including activities unacceptable or even appalling to others. Search for 'smoking girl' on t'internet and you'll find some examples.
The freedom to smoke is in the news in England at the moment. In less than 3 hours time (it's after 9pm on 30 June) a ban on smoking in public places comes into force. The ban applies to places of work, including company cars as well as offices, shops, pubs and restaurants. Most of the time I'll benefit from it (or won't notice any difference because shops and offices are normally smoke-free already), and it's only when I have a cigar to smoke that I'll lose out. That's .. er .. about four occasions a year.
Nevertheless I'm not enthusiastic because I think it goes too far in curtailing people's freedom to smoke.
In the past few years lots of pubs have installed smoking booths or extractor fans (at considerable expense), significantly limiting the nuisance experienced by bystanders. And yet they've now been forced to either simply ban smoking and provide no alternative, or build expensive outdoor shelters to enable the pariahs to keep puffing. And it seems that even historic churches will be required to display garish 'no smoking' signs even though no one ever lights up inside.
Soon we'll be limited to visiting dodgy websites to watch hot babes illicitly inhaling. Here's an example. |
Edited by - Koli on 06/30/2007 21:33:13 |
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duh
"catpurrs"
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Posted - 07/01/2007 : 17:05:16
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I decided to use the Kansas National Guard's 150th anniversary logo. My husband has been working this weekend because there has been flooding in southern Kansas -- one area received about 21 inches of rain. After the Greensburg disaster, my daughter helped staff the communications center for two weeks. The Kansas Guard has troops in Iraq and Kuwait. Kansas Guardsmen have died in Iraq.
I recall that in the 60's, the general public impression seemed to be that the National Guard was mostly a way to avoid getting sent to Viet Nam.
Now, as a wife and mother of Guardsmen, I appreciate the full role of the citizen soldier. |
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TitanPa
"Here four more"
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Posted - 07/02/2007 : 06:00:59
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| Called Cheese Ed Toll Free and told him my votes. |
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w22dheartlivie
"Kitty Lover"
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Posted - 07/03/2007 : 20:55:52
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| Freedom to cast my vote |
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Avatar Contest - Freedom
