Eat a little, talk a little this Fourth of July
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Gain Perspective, Not Weight, on the Fourth of July

Today, the Fourth of July, OIC Moments sends insights to share when your dinner table conversation turns to American freedoms.

There’s sure to be dissent—One guest speaks; not everyone agrees. Could it be, as Lady Bird Johnson said, “The clash of ideas is the sound of freedom”?

Hoping you will gain perspective from the raucous sounds of freedom around your table, we offer three questions and some conversation starters. Try them out and see where the conversation goes.

1. What Does Freedom Feel Like?

Conversation starters:

The truth is I love being alive. And I love feeling free. So, if I can’t have those things, then I feel like a caged animal and I’d rather not be in a cage. I’d rather be dead. And it’s real simple. And I think it’s not that uncommon.

—Angelina Jolie (1975– ), actress and humanitarian

Ah, the feeling of freedom!
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Freedom is control in your own life.

 —Willie Nelson (1933– ), country music singer-songwriter

Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting.

—Alan Dean Foster (1946– ), writer best known for works in science fiction and fantasy

You have freedom when you’re easy in your harness.

—Robert Frost (1874–1963),  poet

Harness? That sounds like freedom might come with limitations and that leads us right to the next question.

2. Where Are the Limits of Freedom?

Conversation starters:

Many people don’t understand how disciplined you have to be to play jazz . . . . And that is really the idea of democracy—freedom within the Constitution or discipline. You don’t just get out there and do anything you want.

—Dave Brubeck (1920–2012), jazz pianist and composer

I do think there are certain times we should infringe on your freedom.

— Michael Bloomberg (1942– ), businessman, philanthropist, and mayor of NYC for three terms beginning in 2002

 One of the things that bothers me most is the growing belief in the country that security is more important than freedom. It ain’t.

—Lyn Nofziger (1924–2006), journalist and White House adviser to President Ronald Reagan

The magic of America is that we’re a free and open society with a mixed population. Part of our security is our freedom.

 —Madeleine Albright (1937– ), diplomat and Secretary of State in the Clinton Administration

Many different people call America “Home.”
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3. What Does Freedom Cost? How Do We Pay it Forward?

John Quincy Adams, US President from 1825–1829 and son of the second President of the US John Adams, had this message for the generations that followed him: “Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it.”

The American generations that followed discovered that they, too, had to preserve freedom with continuing vigilance through wars abroad and social change at home.

Each generation is called upon to boldly preserve American freedoms for the next generation.
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Consider the perspectives of these American voices as you think now about what you and your generation can do to keep freedom alive.

Conversation starters:

Freedom is a muscle . . . you have to exercise it.

—Roy Scheider (1932–2008), actor, choreographer, and film director

Freedom is not an ideal, it is not even a protection, if it means nothing more than freedom to stagnate, to live without dreams, to have no greater aim than a second car and another television set.

—Adlai E. Stevenson (1900–1965), politician, governor of Illinois, and Ambassador to the United Nations

Freedom isn’t free. It shouldn’t be a bragging point that ‘Oh, I don’t get involved in politics,’ as if that makes someone cleaner. No, that makes you derelict of duty in a republic. Liars and panderers in government would have a much harder time of it if so many people didn’t insist on their right to remain ignorant and blindly agreeable.

—Bill Maher (1956– ), comedian, TV host, and political commentator

So keep fightin’ for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t you forget to have fun doin’ it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.

—Molly Ivins (1944–2007), journalist, humorist, and political commentator

Your “Oh, I See” Moment?

Listen to the voices of freedom ringing around your dinner table. Did any one of them make you say, “Oh, I see” today? Leave a comment and let us know your insight. 

What imprint will you leave on America’s freedoms?
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All quotes from Brainy Quote. 

For a perspective on American freedoms through an immigrant’s eyes, see this interview with William Holston of the Human Rights Initiative of North Texas.