What Freedom Looks Like

"Using the readings, what is the definition of "free" that best applies to the issue your studying? What would "freedom" look like? What would be the best way of achieving a "free" outcome? The market or the polis?"

What does freedom look like? Freedom knows know no race. Freedom doesn't care whether you are young or old, rich or poor-- it is all the same to freedom. Freedom is good, and freedom is bad-- it gives you the opportunity to lead the life you want, but can also lead to the rebellion of a nation. All that matters is that freedom is had.

Is there even a clear definition? Yes and no. Freedom can be an ambiguous term in that it's definition is different in various places and for various people. Two definitions of freedom are that, in the market model, people must be free from restraint and harm and, in the polis model, people must have to ability to exercise their social rights. The market model believes that government should focus on civil liberties while the polis model believes that government should focus on civil rights; also, the market model believes that government is restraining while the polis model does not.

In regards to child labor, it is crucial that the polis model be applied. Government is the number one institution with the authority to remove children from child labor situations. Without government, organizations like the ILO would not be able to go in and inspect working conditions, etc. In fact, the ILO only finds the cases, then reports them to public officials who go in and remove the children. Being so young though, it is not safe for the children to be out on their own and they need the provided with material necessities, such as food, clothing, and a place to sleep, as well as an education and the opportunity to social with other children their own age so that they can be well-rounded and stable individuals.

These children deserve a multi-faceted type of freedom. They need to be able to enjoy what is left of their childhood, not have to fear returning to work for their "employer" (I still feel like it is too nice of a term-- these "employers" are essentially slave owners), get a proper education, make friends, socialize-- you name it! I want to see children playing outside, smiling and laughing, and the voice they dread to hear is their mother calling them to come home because it is getting dark out. I am sure you would love to see every child exemplifying this example, too-- really, who wouldn't? If that is the case, then why do we see young children working tirelessly, hour after hour, and praying that their owner doesn't find something wrong so he or she can verbally or physically abuse them? And why do we sit as there is a child on the other side of the world praying that his or her owner not bring him or her into the bedroom?

Hell, a lot of these children are trafficked into the United States through coercion; they are promised a job so they can help the family and are used as domestic help, but are also exploited. I remember reading a case like this once. A social worker had been called to a home in which domestic violence had taken place. A woman had started a fight with her husband because he had cheated on her; as the couple continued to talk, the social worker noticed a little girl hiding off to the side. However, when the social worker attempted to talk to the girl, she found out that she knew very little English and had been brought from a European country (I cannot recall which country, but I think it may have been a Scandinavian country) to work around the house. It occured to the social worker that the girl had suffered sexual abuse from the man, and when the wife saw, she called him a cheater and they got into a fight. Why must we wait for these scenarios to happen before we do something?

Nobody, and I mean nobody, deserves to be physically, verbally, or sexually abused-- this includes children AND adults. This is the number one criteria for the definition for these children's freedom. This in itself implies that these children must be free from physical harm, psychological and emotional harm, moral and spiritual harm, and phsyical as well as psychological restraints. These children should no longer have to suffer this torment or feel compelled to stay so they can help their family repay debt, keep a steady income if any going to their family or whatever else. In addition, these children need to be provided with the opportunity to excerise their social rights and protection of their civil rights.

As I mentioned in my last post, I believe that the best approach for helping these children is getting the government involved by removing the children and prosecuting the "employers" while the children are being rehabilitated. Freedom for these children is the promise of being in control of themselves and the chance to live a happy and healthy lifestyle.