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“Freedom” has always been a loaded word in America. What do we mean by freedom? Obviously, there isn’t one definition for freedom since freedom means different things to different people.
Insomeways,freedommirrorsJusticePotterStewart’sdefinitionofobscenity:“IknowitwhenIseeit.”AndlookingatspeakerafterspeakerattheDemocraticConventionlastnightinChicago,Icouldn’thelpbutbestruckbysomeofthesepeople’sideaofwhat“freedom”means.
VicepresidentialnomineeTimWalzmentionedtheword“freedom”eighttimesinhisacceptancespeech.Infact,hesaidthiselectionwasallabout“freedom.”
TheNewYorkTimestranscribedWalz’sspeech:
WhenRepublicansusethewordfreedom,theymeanthatthegovernmentshouldbefreetoinvadeyourdoctor’soffice.Corporations—freetopolluteyourairandwater.Andbanks—freetotakeadvantageofcustomers.
Oh,really?Intheimmortalwordsof“IndependenceDay’s”DefenseSecretaryAlbertNimzicky,“That’snotentirelyaccurate.”
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