Viva a Liberdade! Long Live Freedom
(PORTUGUÊS) (NEDERLANDS)
Today is 25 April, the day of the Portuguese Carnation Revolution. The day in 1974 when the Novo Estado dictatorship, which Salazar had led with a firm hand since 1932, officially ended. It was a so-called soft transition to democracy. Not a revolution with knives between its teeth. The years that followed were turbulent, there were still deaths that would rather not be talked about and confusion was complete. In the past 51 years, politicians are doing their best to lead by the rules of a democracy (following the example of holy Europe) to a country that has suffered much and to a people whose transition is still fresh in their minds. You can read all the usual history written by the victor anywhere on the internet. Or read a book by Rentes de Carvalho, then you might be surprised.
In the Netherlands, they also celebrate freedom a week later. In my eyes, that has nothing to do with freedom anymore. Freedom from war and occupiers, from bosses and overlords. It is a day off with festivals that have to grow all the time. Beyond the purpose. The Netherlands used to have only the 4-5 May Commemoration ( which was not a day off, by the way), an hour or so to reflect on loss and mourning and regaining precious freedom. It was a quiet hour of contemplation and empathy.
Then the question naturally arises for me: what is this freedom now? So does freedom imply no war? Because almost everyone is at war on a regular basis. With his partner, with his boss, with his pets, with the neighbour. Angry people plenty. Heads full of warring thoughts. Conversations lapse into discussions that even the dogs don't get into. There are times when I feel that everyone is at war, especially with themselves, and to camouflage that, they put on a continuous masquerade. Especially considering that man's natural state is joy. The latter is difficult to accept because then you can no longer blame anyone for your angry mood. Sometimes the feeling creeps up on me that people want to suffer instead of being responsible for themselves.
Living in freedom is easier if you live in a peaceful country than in a war zone. Yet, as long as you are not free in your mind and know that you are solely responsible for your experience, you are still living in war. That is why I do not believe that all these wars and enslaving peoples (yes even in the so-called democratic countries) will ever end as long as man does not face himself and continues to enslave himself through his fear of not getting what he wants or losing what he has.
Viva a Liberdade! Wake up, I would say. You are the only one who can ensure peace in the world by starting to practise sincerity towards yourself.