I've been thinking about the topic of free will for the last couple of weeks. 

It first came to my mind while watching a movie.. a movie which I'd rather not mention for fear of embarrassment.. not that it's a bad movie.. just doesn't add any bonus points to me in the "Having Refined Taste" column, like many of my favorite movies.. but I digress.   Nonetheless, it brought up the topic of free will ... in this instance in the religious sense.  But the political campaign commercials have also brought it up that arena as well.  What really is free will?

Having been raised in a very religious household.. I often pondered this.  The message was always.. God gave us free will to decide whether to serve him or not. Great.. but how free is that?  The choices being.. serve and be blessed.. or choose not to.. which you could.. and die.  Is that really free?  Shouldn't free will really allow for you to choose the "no" answer.. and still not suffer punishment?  I guess the thought was not that you'd be punished.. you just wouldn't be blessed and helped.. but in some ways.. that seems like a bit of a technicality...

Moving forward in my life to politics.. I'm living in Seattle.  I really liked Seattle.. but I have to admit that it was, as I called it, a region of "liberal fascism."  How so?  Well, they prided themselves on being liberal.. which is great.. but if you weren't the same kind of liberal as they were.. you weren't accepted.  How liberal is that really?  If you're really liberal.. or religious and serving a God of love.. shouldn't you accept people on their terms.. not your own?  Seems a bit hypocritical.. on the surface at least..

So now we face the elections in California.. and all the ballots that go with it.  Me.. I'm more of a moderate.. I tend to vote for democratic candidates.. but differ with the party in large ways when in comes to things like capital punishment and welfare, for instance.  Still there are many issues on the ballots these days.. gay marriage.. legalizing marijuana..   Am I going to do these things?  Probably not..  (re: gay marriage.. I'm straight.. just throwing that out there).. but should I try and legislate someone else's free will?  If it doesn't affect my life.. no.. I shouldn't.. and why should anyone else? 

What is living in a free country if we can't exercise free will?  How free is it?

Do I have the answers.. course not.. If I did.. I'd be running the place.  And I see that when my actions affect others.. then yes.. someone should step in and say no.  But insofar as your actions affect only you.. whether it's your sex habits.. or your drug habits.. or even if you want to wear a helmet when you ride your motorcycle.. should government.. or God for all that matter.. tell you what to do?  So long as you're willing to step up and accept the consequences of your actions.. and I mean really accept them, not suing the tobacco companies 20 years later because you chose to smoke.. then no.. I think that is truly free will..

Free will isn't freedom to do whatever the hell you want to whoever you want.... like some teenage kid.. but freedom to make a decision and live with the results.. and as long as I'm willing to do that.. who can condemn me? 

And neither should I condemn others.. Unlike others close to me.. I honestly think I've learned to not only let go of my irritation for others' choices in the past that impacted me.. but I've also learned to respect their right to feel that way.  More power to them.. I hope their lives go well.. truly..

To all of us.. have a go at it.. choose freely.. and more power to you.. but don't blame me if you don't like how it turns out..