The joy of freedom

#281

My Dear Friend of Democracy,

I went on a handcar ride with friends at the weekend. The cold wind reddened our cheeks and a lake flanked the railway embankment while our vehicle slowly rattled through the barren winter forest of the state of Brandenburg, Germany.

We very liked it.

We did what we wanted. We rested where it suited best, ate homemade marble cake, had to clear branches from the trail from time to time (luckily, we had a hand saw with us), and on the way back, at dusk, we took a break at a frozen lake half swallowed by the fog. And all without digital communication. No electrical engineering. Instead, nature and human power.

We enjoyed the feeling of freedom.

Why I’m telling you this?

To me, this is a lovely example of democracy.

Cause in a functioning democracy, we can almost always follow our will.

No one forces us to do anything.

Sure, it is not a land of milk and honey. Everyone is responsible for their own life. But in democracy, we are free to choose how we live up to this responsibility.

Of course, you don't need a handcar ride to realise this. :-) You should do it anyway. It's a lot of fun. Relaxed fun.

See you in Democracy,

Johannes

Trump leaving office 🔻 1,460 days