I remember when I was relaxing while reading a book about "LIBERALISM" on a park bench. Suddenly a friend came over and saw the cover of the book. he asked me "do you want to be a liberal" I replied, "yes I am a liberal". He was surprised and said "Wow, you're crazy, it's better to repent," was the response of a friend of mine when I claimed to be a liberal. These are heretical teachings, distancing oneself from God, western tricks to destroy Islam, and other similar cynicism that I hear so often. The word liberal is like an endemic that must be avoided far away. If necessary, be scorched.
Actually, what is liberal? Why do our people have a phobia when they hear it? Liberals are people who believe in liberalism. Liberalism itself is an ideology, philosophical view, and political tradition based on the understanding that freedom and equal rights are the main political values.
Linguistically, liberal comes from Latin which means free, independent, free, and so on. In short, liberalism believes that freedom is the right of every individual. Then, if everyone demands freedom, there must be chaos everywhere. Blasphemy freedom! Liberalism is a chaotic ideology! This is the opinion of people who do not understand.
Many of those who used to demand the right to liberty were classified as liberals. Including Bung Karno, Bung Hatta, Syahrir, and other freedom fighters. They were labelled liberal by the Netherland because they fought for the right to independence. Even though their ideology is more left-leaning.
Humans are afraid of the unknown. So, it is natural that liberalism is a scourge. Let alone liberalism, many Indonesians are anti-science. Strange but True.
Limits of Freedom
Everything in this world is free, but within the corridors that obey the laws of physics. You may use your eyes and neck to glance at the beautiful girl on either side. But, if the girl is behind you, are you free to see her by just moving your eyes and neck?
If you push yourself, maybe the grim reaper will appear first. Because the neck muscles are bound by the laws of nature. At the very least, you need to move your whole body to see the object directly behind your head.
Nothing in this world is truly free. All creatures have their limits, including planets and stars that move in their orbits. Only God is infinite.
Where are the limits of freedom? Other people's freedom? Up to this point, the concept of the limit of freedom is still abstract. What if I'm sick of hearing the voices of buskers whose voices are discordant? Should these buskers have their freedom circumcised because they interfere with my freedom of hearing? If true, then just muzzle the sound of crickets in the swamp.
The first thing to understand is property rights. I think the only right that deserves the most is property. If something is your property, then you are free to do anything about it.
For example, are you allowed to burn down your house? Can. Throw away your cell phone? Can. Burning houses of worship of other religions? Should not. Killing Others? Should not. Taking someone else's money? Should not. Holding someone else's breast? Should not. Shake your penis? Can.
The point is, it's simple, if something belongs to you, you are free to do anything about it. If you succeed in making the whole world yours, then you are free to do anything. But, it's impossible.
Can you fuck your girlfriend? This is where a deal is needed. If one of the parties does not agree, this is a violation of ownership rights. Because the body is the property of an independent individual. Unless you agree with slavery or consider humans like goods, they can be traded, can be fucked at will. This is another story. And this is opposed by liberalism.
In short, the limit of freedom is the right itself.
Freedom of Opinion
Freedom is a tough topic when it comes to word of mouth. My mouths, what do I want to say! I often hear phrases like this. True, the mouth is the property of a free being. And yes, he has the freedom to use his mouth.
Many liberals say freedom of speech need not be restricted. Yes, because the mouth as an instrument of speech belongs to one individual. If you think someone's sound (a wave going nowhere) is interfering with your freedom, then muzzle the crickets in the swamp. That's more or less.
For freedom of expression, I do not agree with the extreme liberal arguments above. Ideology has always had its spectrum, including liberalism. I think freedom of expression should be limited.
Humans, in the name of civilization (differentiating humans from animals), create boundaries to maintain social harmony. We know these limits as norms and laws. Norms that deal with good and bad and laws that deal with legal-non-legal.
For me, freedom of expression falls within the corridor of norms. It is normal to have good or bad opinions. However, no matter how bad the opinion was, he could not be punished. The sanctions that are given to those who have bad opinions are social, sanctions that are usually imposed on people who violate norms.
An example of bad free speech is harassing or demeaning someone. I think the principle of liberalism must go hand in hand with humanism. All human beings must be considered equal, regardless of their background. Hate the sin, not the sinners.
Corrupts are bastards! Yes, I agree. However, there is no need to make fun of the culprit. After all, it's no use either. It makes us feel holy. We'd better think about blocking the possibility of corruption in the future. This is what I consider "hate the sin, not the sinners". Hate bad human products, not humans.
Excessive freedom of speech can lead to dangerous conflicts. We have to admit, there are still many stupid short-axis humans in the world. Therefore, freedom of expression must be regulated in norms. Restricted.
The principle of extreme liberalism regarding freedom of expression may be applied when humans reach a suitable level of maturity. For example, if you harass me as a black person, then I don't have to get angry and hit back. Because I have full awareness to consider the option to hit or not.
What makes me angry is the part of the brain that regulates emotions (amygdala). The amygdala is located inside my skull, that is, it's mine. I am free to arrange it not to get emotional hearing other people's hate speech. After all, that's his mouth anyway. If I hit him, it means I damage the part of his body that belongs to him. This is a violation.
The problem is that not everyone is mature enough to regulate their amygdala. Most of us are still primitive enough to keep up with our mammalian brains (the amygdala is often referred to as the mammalian brain. The brainstem is commonly called the reptile brain). Most of us rarely follow the rationality that is governed by a part of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex.
The proof, many call communism is similar to liberalism. Thinking a little freely about religion is considered liberal. Siding slightly with the lower classes is considered communist. This is outrageously stupid.
