Op-Ed: When Freedom Isn’t For The Free

This piece is part of Yellow Scene Magazine’s Opinion section. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent a reported news position. At Yellow Scene, opinion pieces speak freely, challenge assumptions, and say the quiet parts out loud.

by Kevin Cheek

Those who shout loudest about freedom are often the ones quickest to suppress it.

When asked exactly what they mean by “freedom”, I imagine they will define it as what America is, what the flag stands for, and what the Marines fought and died for, without ever approaching what freedom actually is. For many, it is a jingoistic term devoid of meaning except as a symbol. What are they free to do? What are they free from? Why are those freedoms important?

They are important. They do define the USA directly in the Constitution:

Supposedly, we are free to speak our minds – except people want to silence any opinions not in line with their view.

Supposedly, we are free to worship or not worship as we see fit – except there is a massive movement to promote a particular form of Christianity above other faiths and enshrine its principles in government.

Supposedly, we are free to have a voice in the political and legal decisions that affect us – except that having one’s voice heard costs increasing millions of dollars, effectively silencing the rest of us.

Supposedly, we are free to vote our conscience – except that they want to limit access to voting, especially in any precinct where the votes are likely to go against them.

Supposedly, we are free from illegal search and seizure without just cause and due process – except that anyone who doesn’t look “American” enough for the current power in charge is subject to exactly that. Their protests of legal status are increasingly difficult to have acknowledged.

So what do they mean by freedom? Do they mean freedom to be controlled by a state whose authoritarian dictator they happen to like? Or do they merely mean freedom for themselves and no one else?

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Originally published: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/6/10/800053191/community/when-freedom-isnt-for-the-free