THE RED DOOR OF FREEDOM.

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In the poem 'Nakbat Dimashq' (The Tragedy of Damascus), poet Ahmed Shawqi presents a poignant line: "And the red freedom has a door, struck by every bloodied hand." This line was echoed by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in one of his last videos before his death. As I reflected on this line and contemplated the wars currently raging in Ukraine, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and elsewhere, I realized that it is nearly impossible to separate freedom from struggle.

There are three nuances to the concept of freedom: first, "freedom from," which denotes liberation from societal constraints; second, "freedom to," which signifies the ability to do what we wish; and third, "freedom to be," which extends beyond mere actions to encompass the freedom to become who we were meant to be. Yet, in all these nuances, it is evident that historically and conceptually, 'freedom' often involves overcoming obstacles, fighting against oppression, and actively defending one’s rights.

Albert Einstein once stated, "Freedom is only possible by constantly struggling for it," suggesting that true freedom is not automatic. Rather, it results from actively confronting prevailing forces. Our African history of emancipation from colonial rule attests to this reality. This struggle applies not only to Africans but also to every person or group striving for their desired freedom. The bloodshed daily around the world in pursuit of both personal and collective freedom highlights the fact that freedom comes at a high cost. With this cost comes the responsibility and need for vigilance.

In this context, John Philpot Curran remarked, "The condition upon which God has given liberty to man is eternal vigilance; which condition, if he breaks, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt." In other words, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Freedom is fragile and vulnerable to many threats. To maintain it, we must remain constantly aware and prepared to respond to any danger, infringement, or opportunity that threatens our liberties. Without continual vigilance, we risk losing our freedom.

Having been born in a time when we did not have to personally fight for freedom from colonialism, it is easy for me to take for granted the sacrifices our national fathers and mothers made for our liberty. It’s tempting to allow unprincipled individuals to plunder and destroy what was won through their struggles. However, Curran's words remind us that we have a moral obligation to fight for the freedoms of both ourselves and others. We cannot afford to be aloof or complacent when our liberties are under threat.

Freedom is precious. It was bought at a price. We must protect it!

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