Bessner's comments re free speech vs right to not be homeless reminds me of a conversation I had with a Sudanese student when I was in college forty years ago. He spoke of people who lived in Communist governments who didn't care about free speech or religion as long as their needs were taken care of. They may not have lived as well as others, but they lived without the stress of wondering where their next meal was coming from or how long they could stay under that roof. That's not enough for everyone, but for some it works, and if the government does its part they do their part by not agitating.
I believe I got Bessner's point about how one can define 'freedom' in different ways. How 'free' are you when your entire worldview is encompassed by daily survival on the streets? How 'free' are you when your leader turns your country into a pariah and crushing sanctions render you poor after the world turns against you in response to your country's unjust war?
The homeless American and the agitating Russian risking prison may have much in common.
Bessner's comments re free speech vs right to not be homeless reminds me of a conversation I had with a Sudanese student when I was in college forty years ago. He spoke of people who lived in Communist governments who didn't care about free speech or religion as long as their needs were taken care of. They may not have lived as well as others, but they lived without the stress of wondering where their next meal was coming from or how long they could stay under that roof. That's not enough for everyone, but for some it works, and if the government does its part they do their part by not agitating.
I believe I got Bessner's point about how one can define 'freedom' in different ways. How 'free' are you when your entire worldview is encompassed by daily survival on the streets? How 'free' are you when your leader turns your country into a pariah and crushing sanctions render you poor after the world turns against you in response to your country's unjust war?
The homeless American and the agitating Russian risking prison may have much in common.