Freedom of Thought

I was somewhat surprised recently when sitting in the Sammamish Library to see a young teacher, tutoring children in math, who pulled out a textbook entitled "Math Doesn't Suck." I guess if we can use that type of verbiage with our youngsters, then I'm not too out of line as a middle-aged man who claims, bluntly, that 2008 has sucked. I'll spare you the details (at least for now), other than to say that the positive outlook I felt on 31 December 2007 was trashed eleven days later, only to continue to be trashed on different occasions since then. I am hoping that in some small way this European trip may be an inflection point and alter that trajectory. If not, I'm in for the suck of my life.

As I've alluded to before, key to the "suckiness" of this year has been the violation of my trust and even my freedom of thought. These rights have always been fundamental axioms of my life, inalienable rights in practice not just in words. In the last few months, and on this trip in particular, I'm gaining an even deeper respect and understanding for them simply beyond the words and their common connotations.

Freedom of thought is a concept that we as Americans don't understand. We feel it is our right and our duty to "read into" what a person says and believes. We as Americans lack the ability to trust, to believe that other humans are innately benign if not beneficial. Our belief is that we must control others at all times lest we lose control. The ability to read another's mind and react to his unexpressd thoughts is a gift God gave to Americans. Apparently, Europeans lack this gift.

In Europe, freedom of thought is prime. Individuals are judged not by the implication that might, possibly, perhaps, maybe be behind a thought or an utterance, but rather people are judged---and held accountable---by their actions, by what they do, by how they impact others. Break a law and yes, you will be punished, with "spot fouls" on many infractions such as travelling on public transit without a ticket.

For freedom of thought to have meaning, it must be combined with trust and respect for others. Thoughts must be respected and afforded the highest level of trust possible. If actions go beyond what is socially acceptable, then punishment may be in order, but never, ever, should perceived thoughts be punished. Sorry folks, but even in the USA you just ain't mindreaders, and you don't have the right to judge what you perceive another to be thinking.