Articles and Essays

et_pb_section admin_label=”Section” fullwidth=”on” specialty=”off”et_pb_fullwidth_post_title admin_label=”Fullwidth Post Title” title=”on” meta=”off” author=”on” date=”on” categories=”on” comments=”on” featured_image=”off” featured_placement=”below” parallax_effect=”on” parallax_method=”on” text_orientation=”center” text_color=”light” text_background=”off” text_bg_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.9)” module_bg_color=”#21211f” title_font=”|||on|” title_font_size=”60px” title_font_size_tablet=”30px” title_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” title_all_caps=”on” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”5344″ /et_pb_fullwidth_post_title/et_pb_sectionet_pb_section admin_label=”section” transparent_background=”off” background_color=”#ffffff” allow_player_pause=”off” inner_shadow=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” padding_mobile=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” make_equal=”off” use_custom_gutter=”off” custom_css_main_element=”align: {middle;}”et_pb_row admin_label=”Row” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” use_custom_gutter=”off” padding_mobile=”off” allow_player_pause=”off” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”off” make_equal=”off” parallax_1=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” parallax_2=”off” parallax_method_2=”off” column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_css_main_2=”position: relative;”et_pb_column type=”2_3″et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” text_font_size=”18″ text_line_height=”1.9em” Today is the US holiday celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the subsequent victory and separation from the British Empire. The essence of the holiday is the celebration of freedom in all its forms, though similar to how many other holidays come unmoored from their origins, it has somewhat morphed into “a day off, grilling out, and fireworks”. I think about freedom a lot, because it’s central to expression. The ability to leverage one’s voice in pursuit of an outcome, whether in the political arena, the business world, or elsewhere, is an essential, unalienable right sealed by the founding fathers of the US, and is central to a thriving culture. However, when taken for granted, freedom grows sour. It can begin to feel cheap. It becomes “my right to have my way trumps yours” rather than taking its rightful place as the guide rails for meaningful exchange and mutual respect. Freedom is costly. Not to sound dramatic, but every ounce of freedom you experience cost someone dearly. In the realm of governments and