Today I had a conversation with a friend of mine. We were talking about the inequality of freedom that I blogged about several days ago. As the conversation progressed I decided to share a story with her that helped shape my current perspective on freedom. Since I seem to be having a bout of writers block I will share the story here.
Two springs ago I spent time in Ghana. While I was there I had the privlege of spending time with a lady there. We conversed on many topics but one conversation in particular will always stay with me. Her home was on the outskirts of the main city we were residing in and as we were strolling her neighborhood late in the evening I noticed the overwhelming amount of stars dotting the night sky. It was truly magical. Here in North America it is very hard to get away from the city lights and I remarked to her how amazing it was to experience a night like this and she was lucky to be able to have this view night after night. She quietly informed me that she had never awed over the stars, never admired their beauty.
This information floored me. I pushed the point and asked her why she had never pondered the night sky? Never marveled at the millions of stars and how insignificant yet special they make an individual feel? Never wondered if there was anyone looking back? Her response was truly sobering. She simply did not have the time or the luxury to think about the stars. And how could she? Her thoughts were dedicated to her job, trying to make rent, worrying about her parents, her siblings, the archaic views of women in her society, the disgusting sexual abuse she has to deal with day in and day out. The more I heard in detail, the more I realized what a luxury it truly was to enjoy the night sky.
To make what she said even worst is that she identified men who I corresponded with daily as preying on young females, abusing them sexually for advancements in classes. A section of the project’s mandate that brought me to Ghana was the betterment of living and economic conditions for women. The hypocrisy of the situation was and still is grotesque. The words of my friend in Ghana changed my life forever. But, I gave nothing in return. I came back to a country that takes freedom for granted and enjoy luxury not even imaginable to the majority of the world. How many people are like my friend? How many people cannot dedicate thoughts to the night sky? If one can’t marvel at the stars, how can they ever realize their own freedom? How can we ignore the freedom that so many lack?
