Making a decision to live free or die during COVID-19

It's August of 2021, and I've been following the news reporting on people who stand by the motto "Live Free or Die". And historically this has been a rallying cry for people who were willing to give up their life rather than lose their liberty. And speaking for myself, I'm very much in agreement of the statement "Live Free or Die". It's my life, I will not be enslaved, or forced to do things that will deny my liberty. Yes, I will die free. And this is where it gets kinda tricky nowadays because there are people who haven't defined what freedom means to them.

Words require definitions, and "freedom" is no exception. Of course we can all agree that putting me in a dungeon and throwing away the key would take away my freedom. I would have lost the ability to move around freely, and would be willing to lose my life if necessary rather than be trapped there. Of course if I define my freedom as the ability to go the wrong way down the freeway at 100 miles an hour, most people would disagree with how I'm using the term "freedom". Yes, it's freedom in the purest sense of the word, but it isn't the freedom that most people agree on. I could give other examples, like having the freedom to randomonly burn down people's houses, or whatever, but I think you see what I mean.

But make no mistake, I very much agree with "Live Free or Die". At the risk of sounding flippant, I myself would choose death over having to eat plain yogurt for every meal for the rest of my life. And how a person defines their freedom is a matter or personal choice. As long as they go quietly, and hurt no one, I defend their choice. They could have a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) or refuse an operation. They could sit at home drinking whiskey long after they've been told that their liver is failing. They could, of course, refuse a vaccine.

It's a tough question that is suddenly in front of everyone who checks their social media during COVID-19. I would never wish death on anyone, of course, but I defend their right to die rather than not living free.

Live Free or Die!

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