With the Freedom of Choice comes the Burden of Responsibility

It was interesting to observe the behaviour in the former Soviet countries in Central and Eastern Europe, soon after the communist dictatorships collapsed there. In particular, it seemed to me that the more “socialist” the country had claimed to be, the more antisocial was the behaviour of its citizens once the repression was lifted from them. It reminded me of the similar behaviour of ex-Convent girls once they arrived in University (although their behaviour was well, all too social)! On a more strategic perspective, it seems to be depressingly common for the new governments of newly emancipated nations to succumb to the temptation of behaving irresponsibly, often passing legislation that is either self-serving and/or likely to result in far greater problems later on. For those of us who have seen it before, it is like the frustration parents experience trying to get children not to be self-destructive, when they know that the child will go ahead anyway. They seem to need to make the mistakes and learn the hard way, rather than being prepared to learn from our earlier mistakes. And all we can do is stand by and help to pick them up if they do fall.

This relative irresponsibility is often used as an excuse by an oppressor not to let go but to continue the status quo, and this is frequently supported by those who fear the turbulence that any such relaxation might release, (admittedly usually most of all by those who have done well under the current regime, but this is not universally so). It seems that this is just human nature – we are all to ready to embrace the freedoms and choices in our lives, but much less willing to accept that with these choices necessarily comes the burden to use them wisely, to consider the implications of our decisions, and in particular, to accept responsibility for the decisions and actions that we take.

We may recognise this in others, for example by those who have recently been released from oppression, but does this principle not equally to apply to us all, albeit perhaps, on a different level? Those of us who are fortunate enough to enjoy life in a free market democracy may understand the implications that irresponsible behaviours will have in newly emerging countries, but how often do we apply the same consideration to ourselves? Perhaps we do not yet comprehend the full implications of our actions, but how often do we even try? And with our immeasurably greater freedoms, powers and opportunities, are not the implications of our actions that much greater too? I wonder if we in the affluent West are too readily seduced into the instant gratifications that perpetually surround us, without wishing to consider the longer term implications of our current lifestyles. As human beings, it seems likely that we are. Are we also guilty of not taking a sufficiently long term perspective? And are we able to learn and adapt our behaviours fast enough, before we reap what we have already sown?

We all enjoy greater freedoms, but are we willing to accept the greater responsibilities that come with this? If we are not to abuse the greater freedoms that we seek, then we must accept the greater level of responsibility and maturity that this imposes on us as well. This might appear daunting to many of us (and clearly it seems that it does!), but is this not better than having to exist under the suffocating mantle of constant repression, without having our freedoms at all? If you ever doubt which you prefer, just ask anyone who has had to endure life in a totalitarian state.