The Orbis

What is freedom? Political activist Angela Davis suggested one way of understanding the meaning of freedom. "Go through the speeches of (the President)," she said, "and each time he says ‘freedom' or ‘democracy' substitute the word ‘capitalism', and you will see the true agenda of this administration."

The comment points to the need for deep criticism of the rhetoric of freedom and democratic human rights, along with its connections with modern dynamics of power and oppression.

The "International Declaration of Human Rights" is signed by the United States and the vast majority of other nations. In this formulation, as in the classical notion offered by Locke and Jefferson, "rights" are a list of primarily political prohibitions that limit the power of government. Also consider as an example the so-called "Bill of Rights."

Extending this understanding to freedom, "free" society protects the "rights" of individuals. With this conception of freedom, destroying oppressive government is all that is required to free society. Thus Iraqis are described as "freed." This prohibition-oriented conception of freedom and rights is powerful, but is it adequate to describe the reality of experienced freedom?

Is it freedom if the government doesn't stop you from eating, but you do not have the power to get food to eat? This picture of freedom, nominal freedom without power, is very dark indeed, but it is the only kind of freedom that can be described as "on the march" under this administration.

Millions are starving on this kind of freedom. The negative conception is incomplete; some consideration of power must be included if freedom is to have any real meaning.

Power is positive; according to the dictionary, it is the "ability to act." Without power there is no freedom and there are no rights. In this conception, those who empower oppressed and disenfranchised communities are the freedom fighters. Those who consolidate the power of elites over the oppressed are the enemies of freedom.

This means that not only authoritarian (unilateral) government, but the multinational capitalist elite, university administrations, the leaders of student organizations and even our professors can all be enemies of freedom.

From "fraternal" initiation rites to student government to conversation in class, power is wrapped up in our everyday activities. Ruthless examination of our society is required to understand power as it works. But understanding is not enough to free us and transform us into freedom fighters.

As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." We must place our power in solidarity with the powerless in the modern world. We must organize ourselves in ways that do not reproduce patterns of oppression within our own groups. The groups struggling to fight for freedom on campus include (among others) Habitat for Humanity, the Black Student Alliance, Amnesty International, Lambda and the Living Wage campaign. If you seek to be free, raising awareness is not enough. You must join the fight.

Joel Dillard is the co-president of the Vanderbilt chapter of Amnesty International.

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