Freedom Beyond Submission And Rebellion

"To thine own self be true."

When one is oppressed, there is an impulse to rebel. To push against that power and do the opposite of whatever it asks in order to secure your own autonomy. This choice might seem superior to submission and complying with whatever the dominant power demands. Yet rebellion still defines a person by the oppression they seek to liberate themselves from. Their actions are caused by oppressive power, the same as they would be if they submitted, rather than acting from their own truth. There is no difference between rebellion and submission because in both cases an oppressive power defines the person’s actions.

Beyond submission and rebellion, there is the freedom to live life on one’s own terms. From this frame, one acts because of what they want rather than reacting to what another power wants for them with submission or rebellion. In some instances, their actions might align with what power wants. In others, it will not. There may even be nuanced places where they comply differently than power wants them to or disobey in a way that power permits. However, it makes no difference to a free man because power is not part of their decision-making process. They are guided only by their truth.

This is why hate - real hate, not what people call “hate” to demonize their political opponents - is a poison. Hate defines a person by what they oppose rather than what they support. Even if what a person hates is evil, that person is defined by evil. Those who define themselves by what they oppose often have little going on in their life. Hate is not fertile ground for growth. If they defined themselves by what they loved, they would naturally repel those who do not share their love. There might still be times when one takes action against oppressive powers, yet the motivation is different. Rather than rebellion, one is merely being true to themselves.