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(Un)freedom

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Young Blood By Alejandro Ibanez |Philippine Daily Inquirer

We are not free. That is how I see it, and that is how I experience it. Freedom is a misapprehension, a misconstrued concept that is usually associated with the youth of today.

Young, wild, and free? Dream on. I used to stand with this belief until reality came as unpleasant surprise. Right after college, I thought I had powers to change the world, to make it more humane. But I was wrong. My old friend was right all along: It is such a hell out there. I was so idealistic that my subjectivity crumbled the moment I left the university.

I thought that the might of my ideals and the sharpness of my principles were enough to fight injustice, to challenge the status quo. I thought life after graduation was an opportunity to practice the theories I had learned in the classroompraxis, as the academe calls it. I thought that sharpening my sociological imagination, putting to the fore taken-for-granted assumptions, transcending the faade of normalcy, was the job a critical sociologist could do outside the four walls of the classroom. I thought having the courage to stand up for what is right would suffice to back this eagerness to be an agent of change. But I soon realized it required more than that.

In the university that professes to be the vanguard of democracy and freedom, I was taught that critical dissent is a profession in itself, and I think I have mastered it well. Despite the ravaging criticisms from the mainstream media and from the (post-political-liberal) petty bourgeoisie, and the ruling class out there, I thought it was enough to master this craft of critical engagement to impart counter-ideologies, to not conform with the culture industry, to harness critical thinking, to convince others that there is an alternative to what we have. I was dismayed.

When I entered the workforce as an ordinary Juan de la Cruz, who spent the day at a computer desk for more than eight hours, the frustration grew more. My sociopolitical aspirations were translated to sending e-mails, doing the regulation tasks, attending meetings, pleasing the bosses, etc. My passion for an active engagement with the politics of the state resulted in mere politics in the office. I felt so lost. I was looking for a proper avenue where I could actualize the idea of being a reflective public intellectual, but that eagerness seems to be nearing oblivion.

Just years ago, I was one of those young people who wished for class distinction to wither away. Now I had become an ordinary employee working my ass off for a meager paycheck, already part of the global capitalist labor chain, for a compensation that defines who I am or, worst, defines the contours of what I can do. This is first-hand exploitation. At least now I get to experience it, but the sad part is, it is way easier to say and to theorize than to feel.

Sometimes I wonder if this is really what Marx calls alienation, if this is the feeling that the critical theorists usually despise. The feeling is indescribable, I must say; it is beyond words. Zizek nailed it when he claimed that sometimes we just feel free simply because we lack the language in which to articulate our unfreedom. This is the sad truth. Just years ago, I was criticizing this system. But now I belong to it; sometimes I even think that I am part of it. The idea is that instead of me introducing thought-provoking claims, I am here giving the pleasant, the popular, and the conventional. A sadder idea here is: This is now my reality.

To somehow ease this tension within me, I went back to the academe. To go back to the discipline that taught me to question things around me, to go back to the sociological canons (Marx, Weber, Durkheim) that bestowed upon me that quality of mind that sees things differently. My first day with the university was quite nostalgic. The militanteven the symbolicprotests have occurred to me again. The burning passion to be a revolutionary was alive againbut with more modesty and maturity, I suppose.

The struggles, obviously, are still there, but they are more realistic to me. Why? Because I have experienced it and I continue to experience it still. My rage is still there for the status quo, but I have now controlled myself to be more reticent with my rants and to control my misguided rage. I believe that this should be done to keep me sane in a world full of oppression and perversion. But have I given up?

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(Un)freedom

Alliance Defending Freedom: OK Court Clerks Don't Have To Violate Beliefs

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TULSA COUNTY, Oklahoma -

Despite the recent ruling that made gay marriage legal in Oklahoma, court clerks do not have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if it violates their personal beliefs.

That is the message from the Alliance Defending Freedom.

After an Oklahoma couple sued Tulsa County Court Clerk, Sally Howe-Smith, over her refusal to issue same-sex marriage license, lawyers with the Alliance Defending Freedom stepped in to represent Howe-Smith.

They ended up losing the case when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case, allowing same-sex marriages in Oklahoma; but Howe-Smith's attorneys said her moral beliefs are still protected.

Dozens of same ex couples have said I do since the ban on gay marriage was lifted in Oklahoma.

10/6/2014 Related Story: Stay Lifted: Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal In Oklahoma

They are getting licenses in the very office where the Tulsa County court clerk refused to issue them and was eventually sued.

"I took an oath to follow the constitution and Oklahoma State law, so it would have been illegal for me to issue a marriage license to someone other than a man and woman, Howe-Smith said.

Now that the ban on gay marriage in Oklahoma is lifted, Howe Smith hasn't had a change of heart.

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Alliance Defending Freedom: OK Court Clerks Don't Have To Violate Beliefs

Freedom's Zach Juhasz has passion for golf that led him to PIAA championships

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Zach Juhasz began playing golf just three years ago but still set a personal goal to win the District 11 championship. And he almost did.

A week after his disappointing playoff loss, the Freedom High senior recuperated to qualify for his first appearance at the PIAA Class 3A tournament. Juhasz shot a 3-over 75 at the PIAA East regional Tuesday at Golden Oaks in Fleetwood, leading all District 11 players at the 18-hole qualifier.

Juhasz and Freedom teammate Helen Hsu led a group of six District 11 golfers who advanced to next week's PIAA championships in York. Hsu, a senior, shot 79 to reach states for the first time. Freedom coach Mike Evans admitted to some surprise.

"It's been quite a few years since we've had two state qualifiers," Evans said. "To go 2-for-2 here, I'm thrilled."

Bethlehem Catholic's J.T. Barker shot a 4-over 76 to advance to his first Class 2A boys tournament.

Emmaus' Kelsey Patterson (81) made the Class 3A girls field for the first time, while Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg's Krista Kissel (84) and Central Catholic's Franca Hurtado (89) returned to states in Class 2A. Hurtado, the District 11 2A girls champ, is making her third trip to states. Kissel, a sophomore, is a two-time qualifier.

Three years ago, Juhasz began playing golf with his dad and immediately took to the sport. He soon was breaking 100, then began to practice ritually, then shot a 42 for nine holes at Bethlehem Municipal.

As a freshman he approached Evans in history class at Freedom and expressed interest in playing golf. Why not? Evans said, figuring the young player was just beginning. But he learned quickly.

Between his sophomore and junior years, Juhasz lowered his average from 90 to 79. This season, Juhasz averaged 76 for Freedom, including a competitive low round of 70 at Bethlehem Municipal. Juhasz said his personal best there is 67.

"He works at the game incessantly," Evans said. "I've never seen anyone with more passion for the game than Zach."

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Freedom's Zach Juhasz has passion for golf that led him to PIAA championships

Freedom QB Joe Young questionable for Parkland game

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The rapid improvement of sophomore quarterback Joe Young has helped the Freedom football team surge to the top of the EPC South Division football standings.

The Patriots may have to play without him when they try to keep their perfect start going Friday.

Young is questionable for this weeks game against Parkland after suffering an injury in last weeks overtime win against Whitehall. Freedom coach Jason Roeder said at Tuesdays practice he hoped to know more on Youngs status in the next few days.

Young has run for 404 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per carry this season. He has thrown for another 899 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions for Freedom, which is 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the South Division. The Patriots finished 2-8 last season.

If Young cant go against the Trojans, Freedom would likely turn to junior Jonah Gundrum. Gundrum started several games at quarterback as a sophomore last season before Young took over later in the year.

Gundrum has played wide receiver this season and been an impact special-teams player for Freedom. He has blocked two field goals and one punt.

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Freedom QB Joe Young questionable for Parkland game

Freedom Summer was a building block, panel says

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While the overt goal of Freedom Summer was to register black Mississippians to vote, a panel of civil rights scholars and veterans say that summer was a building block for the Civil Rights Movement.

Miami University concluded its extended weekend remembering the 50th anniversary of Freedom Summer, the summer where 800 students ascended on the Western College of Women campus which is now the Oxford campus western campus to be trained and then sent to Mississippi.

The panel on Understanding the Past, Building the Future was led by Miami University assistant professor of history Nishani Frazier and featured a panel of Chude Allen, Gloria Wade Gayles, Dave Dennis, Jared Leighton, Keith Parker and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio.

I came up in a community that was real where I had a lot of fathers and I have a lot of mothers. I came up a community where people looked out for each other, said Dennis, a Freedom Rider and member of the Council of Federated Organizations in Mississippi.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, sat in on the panel of civil rights scholars and veterans and recounted his personal experiences, albeit removed due to age from the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.

The senior senator from northern Ohio said the lesson people can take from Freedom Summer is to fight back by making trouble, making good, necessary trouble, whether its for civil rights for marriage or racial equality, or for voters rights.

Your life expectancy is connected to your ZIP code. If you grew up in Oxford, Ohio, or Oxford, Mississippi, if you grow up in Over-the-Rhine or what Over-the-Rhine used to be in Cincinnati five years ago or in Indian Hill, a wealthy suburb, so much of your lifes plan is laid out for you in terms of the support you have, the opportunities you have. That really to me is what the Civil Rights Movement is all about how we changed that script for so many people whose life plan is too scripted ahead of time by the zip code they were born in, Brown said.

Parker, who holds undergraduate degrees in psychology and sociology and masters and doctorate in sociology, said the children of today needs to have an outlet where they can do good for a community, or a cause, and not be destructive.

One of the failures is the fact that we are not engaging young people, said Parker, who is involved in the organization of the National Civil Rights Conference in Mississippi. For some reason we are not able to find ways to allow young people to come and express themselves as we were allowed our churches, our schools, our civil and social organizations, and clubs provided us the opportunities to do these sorts of things. Where is that today? I think that is a reflection of the society and the time of which we are living, he said.

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Freedom Summer was a building block, panel says

Advocates of religious freedom see need for strength

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National News from AP World News from AP By JoAnne Viviano The Columbus Dispatch Monday October 13, 2014 11:34 PM

CEDARVILLE, Ohio For Steve Green, it seemed a no-brainer that the U.S. Supreme Court would rule in favor of his company, Hobby Lobby.

It had sought a religious exemption to a federal mandate that requires employers to provide employees insurance coverage for contraception, including morning-after pills.

We have no desire, intent to impose our religion on any of our employees, and thats not what were asking for, Green, the president of the Oklahoma City-based craft-store chain, said last week during the Religious Freedom Summit at Cedarville University in western Ohio.

Were just saying we want to not be forced to become an abortion provider by freely providing products that would take life.

To Green, it seemed a simple decision in a country that has religious freedoms.

At the summit, sponsored by Cedarville University and the Virginia-based Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Green said defying the mandate could have cost his company more than $1 million a day in fines and put it out of business.

The family-owned Hobby Lobby, citing its Christian beliefs, won its case in June, when the Supreme Court ruled that closely held, for-profit companies can claim a religious exemption.

Many speakers at the summit said the issue is just one facet of potential infringements that religious leaders will need to stand up to.

Religious organizations were among groups that challenged the contraception mandate, while others have argued that allowing exemptions could compromise the health of women employees and take away their right to make their own health-care decisions.

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Advocates of religious freedom see need for strength


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