Life or Freedom?

With North Korea getting more and more bold, I've started to question a few things.

Would you rather have your life, or would you be willing to die for freedom?

I mean, From one perspective, freedom doesn't do you a lot of good if your dead. On the other hand, whats the point of living if your life is whatever the big man on top wants it to be?

SO I ask ya'll: would you rather have freedom or life?

I, personally... dont know. I'd like to think I'd be willing to die for freedom, but then again I've always been a content kind of guy, happy with what life has dished out for me. I value freedom of all kinds, its my guiding principle in life, but I think I would find a way to enjoy life even without it.

...so, ultimately... im not sure. its something I'll need to think about.

Lemmie know your thoughts!

thanks!

Depends on how much freedom there'd be stripped away.
Would I rather die than be imprisoned in Tuol Sleng for life? Hell yes.
Would I rather die than be eavesdropped on by the Securitate twenty-four/seven? Hell yes.
Would I rather die than live without freedom of thought? Hell yes.

Of course we all sacrifice liberties for the sake of coexistence; but I think I'd draw the line when I couldn't be myself within the walls of my own home anymore.

Without freedom you have no life.

Life, Cause you can always f*ck any system and get whatever luxuries you want. (Where theres a will theres a way)

To quote Joker from the film FULL METAL JACKET: "The dead know only one thing... Its better to be alive".

I voted freedom but it's not that simple.

I would give up most of my rights for a safer and more secure life, but there are some things I would never give up.
Freedom of expression/speech for example is something that I wouldn’t give up for anything. There are many others as well, but things like the right privacy doesn’t bother me I don’t do anything illegal so no worries.

Life is meaningless without freedom. For me, there is no choice. So..

I'd like to think I'd go with life. You can always fight for freedom, but if you have no life there is no freedom to fight for. "There isn't much you can do when you are dead, alive you're free."

However, I've never been in a situation where I had to choose between the two, and I'm not sure I could pick either one of them lightly. XD

This is exactly what I'm talking about. The U.S. wasn't found on principle along - they fought for their freedom and they got it. Granted, the U.S. may not be THE best nation out there to live, but it beats about 70-80% of the nations out there.

I've seen people sacrifice their life to give the freedom of life to others, and I wouldn't mind doing the same. Hell, I made an oath to

I'll be completely honest - as long as I could do the usual shit I do every day, I'd be fine with giving up "freedoms."

If the government said that I couldn't own a gun, would I be willing to die for my right to own a gun? No. If the government said that I couldn't own a house worth more than $500 million or a car worth more than $50,000, would I be willing to die for my right to own either of those? No.

But like gibbous said, it depends on what "freedoms" would be taken away. If they said I couldn't watch porn, I'd probably try to fight (not physically but mentally; pretty silly to get into a gunfight over fap material).

Another thing that's important is what I would get in exchange for losing the "freedom." If I have to wait an extra ten minutes to get into a club because the bouncer is thoroughly checking everybody to make sure nobody has a weapon, it's worth it, because I'd rather not be in a crowded room with a guy packing heat. But if I can't search Google for porn because they want to eradicate child pornography from the internet, or some such bullshit, then no deal. I'm not getting enough back.

To truly the question posed by the OP, would I stand up and fight, and possibly die, for freedom? No. I like living. And I don't have to live in the US to have a damn good life. If shit goes down, I'd try my best to leave, and if I couldn't leave, I'd keep trying, until I got out of this place and into someplace better. And if there is no better place, then who the fuck knows. I might kill myself. Better death than being killed on the battlefield.

Freedom is relative, it is the question of having freedom taken from you. That, i could not, and would not stand for.

With no life you have no freedom, but yet you can. There are two ways to look at it.

Exactly what I was trying to get across.

Life.

Because, once you die, that's it. Poof. Material problems cease to become an issue.

Besides, it's not like we live in an Orwellian society, where Big Bro' is watching you at every hour. Even if we "lose" freedoms, it doesn't mean we have to give them up.

And, if big brother does decide to take a keen interest in my life, then I think I'd either leave, or failing that, fight.

After all, better to die on the battlefield then in your own home.

[size=5]Or by your own hand, Shaggy. Cowards into Valhalla get do not.[/h]

How so?

I'm going to take a guess and say, "honor." Which is definitely not a good enough reason to just die.

That.

Also, if I was given the choice of

a) a comfortable death at home, by binging on sleeping pills or whatever;

or

b) an uncomfortable death in dirt, suffering, fear, routine abuse, stress, sleep deprivation, pain, ... on the battlefield;

I know which one I'd pick! Sure as fuck not b)!

Same here.

I know a lot of people would find that selfish or even unpatriotic, but that's juts how I feel. I don't care about honor, so dying that way has no meaning for me.

The people who would think like that, or at least the ones that I know in life would complain about my patriotism are douche bags. People are taught to value honor as if it really means something for your life. Plus, I don't like how people think I need to sacrifice my life for the country or else I'm some selfish little bitch.

@thread I wouldn't really die for something I will not have. And if I don't die, then I will try to not get arrested for the totalitarian laws I break.