It seems as though some people are born with a preference for safety while others place a much higher value on freedom. In a world of risk one makes decisions based on how much safety and security he is willing to give up in exchange for freedom. Those predisposed to want safety ask for a long life, while those predisposed to want freedom ask for an adventurous life.
COVID has brought this dichotomy to the forefront of society. We are able to see how individuals act in the face of risk. Some beg for everything to be locked down or ask for forced vaccines. Others think being forced to wear a mask violates their freedom. Some cannot tolerate any deaths—or even any cases. One is too many. Others want to go on with their lives even if it means thousands die.
A recent article came out in The Times which explicitly called upon “Big Brother” to help beat he virus. It is a call to trade freedom for safety. The freedom of all Americans in exchange for the end of a virus that kills 1%-2% of people infected with it.
Another exchange for safety could be made as well. The speed limit on all roads can be reduced to 25 miles an hour. It would make getting places take a lot longer, but injuries and deaths from car accidents would be almost completely eradicated. In a way we have already made the trade. This is why you aren’t allowed to drive 100 miles an hour. However we found a balance of freedom and safety when it comes to driving. Some risk is permitted, but not too much.
While I try to avoid any unnecessary risks, I have always been of the mindset that freedom is far more important than safety. Primarily because you don’t get out of life alive. No matter what you do, it will end. Therefore that cliché “it’s not how long you live but how you live” rings true. If you want safety you can huddle in a corner for 100 years while people feed you and take care of you, and even then absolute safety is an impossibility.
There are many things worse than death or injury and they all seem to happen in the absence of freedom (i.e. torture). In many cases, tortured individuals aren’t even given the freedom to die.
“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool,
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.” -Leo F. Buscaglia
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