Understanding Positive vs Negative Liberty

Posted on November 13, 2024 by David Pugh

The ideas of positive and negative liberty are two different takes on what freedom really means, and philosopher Isaiah Berlin lays it all out in his famous 1958 essay titled “Two Concepts of Liberty.”

Negative Liberty

Negative liberty is all about having the freedom to do your thing without anyone messing with you. It basically asks, “Where’s the space where someone—or a whole group—can just be themselves and do what they want, without getting a hassle from others?”

Key things to know about negative liberty are:

  • Being free from any stuff that gets in your way or holds you back
  • Absence of interference from others, especially the government
  • Measured by the number and importance of choices available to an individual
  • Often associated with classical liberalism and libertarianism

Negative liberty is basically all about having the freedom to do your thing without anyone getting in the way. The more options you’ve got, the more chill and free you feel in this kind of freedom.

Positive Liberty

Positive liberty is all about how you can take charge of your life and chase after what really matters to you. It’s basically asking: “What or who gets to decide what you can do or be?”

Key points about positive liberty are:

  • The ability to really get to know yourself and take charge of your life
  • Freedom to achieve one’s potential and pursue one’s true interests
  • Often involves overcoming internal constraints (e.g., irrational impulses, addictions)
  • Can be applied to individuals or collectives
  • Sometimes associated with social democracy and welfare state policies

Positive liberty is all about having the power and tools you need to chase your dreams. It’s not just about being free from restrictions; it’s also about having the abilities and chances to make your own choices.

Comparison and Implications

Negative liberty is all about not having anyone or anything getting in your way, while positive liberty is more about having the skills and chances you need to really be yourself. This difference really shakes things up when it comes to political ideas and policies:

  1. Role of government: People who are into negative liberty usually want a laid-back government that keeps an eye on individual rights but stays out of your business otherwise. On the flip side, those who dig positive liberty think the government should be more hands-on, helping to set up the right conditions for folks to truly thrive.
  2. Individual vs. collective: Negative liberty is typically framed in individualistic terms, while positive liberty can have both individual and collective applications.
  3. Potential for abuse: Berlin warned that the concept of positive liberty could be misused to justify authoritarian control, with leaders claiming to know what’s best for people’s “true selves.”
  4. Compatibility with pluralism: Berlin argued that negative liberty is more compatible with value pluralism, recognizing that people have different, sometimes conflicting goals and values.

Grasping these two ideas of liberty really shines a light on a bunch of discussions in political philosophy and public policy, like what the government should actually be doing and what makes life meaningful for people.

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Terrorism

Posted on March 22, 2024 by David Pugh

One cannot understand, or justify, or sadly defeat terrorism.

HOWEVER, WE MUST NEVER FORGET NOR RELENT IN OUR EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THIS EVIL.

Even totalitarian, militaristic regimes from Tsarist Russia through to any country you chose to name, have been subjected to terrorism.

The terrorists are like rats or mosquitoes. Like rats and mosquitoes, we can tie ourselves in knots attempting some form of justification for their existence.

Like rats and mosquitoes, we can try to restrict their appearance and contact with humans, but we know they will always be there.

We manage to construct our own lives, free as possible from their irritations. The rat can be deadly with the transmition of plague and other illnesses. Likewise, the mosquito with malaria etc.

However, they are but – within our perceptions –irritations.

This, unfortunately, is not the case with terrorism.

It should be. Terrorists kills far fewer innocent people than either rats or mosquitoes.

We must not give terrorism the “glory” nor the “Importance” it demands, or attempt any justification.

NOR SUPPORT ORGANISATIONS OR MOVEMENTS THAT USE TERROR

Otherwise, terrorism wins.

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THE FORGOTTEN REFUGEES

Posted on March 7, 2024 by David Pugh

In Israel, they are not called refugees: the synonym is “internally displaced people”.

The facts are these:

  1. 15,552 displacements (forced to flee), 08 October – 13 October
    According to the head of the Upper Galilee Regional Council, approximately 15,552 people were forced to flee in the Upper Galilee Regional Council due to fear of escalation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel between 8 October and 13 October.
  2. 80,000 displacements (evacuated), 23 October – 19 November
    According to government, approximately, 80000 people were evacuated from the area bordering Lebanon due to hostilities at the Lebanese/Israeli border between 23 October and 19 November.

While the world rightly concerns itself with the internally displaced people inside Gaza, the lack of notice paid to this other story is strange.

Although these displaced people’s lives may be better than those of the citizens in Hamas-run Gaza, it isn’t much fun. It might be fun to live with your family in a hotel room for a week. It isn’t much fun to do so for months, let alone indefinitely. Furthermore, it is life on hold, with children missing their education.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Yoram Laredo, head of Israel’s National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), said that the number of evacuees could be close to a quarter of a million and that Israel was grappling with a new challenge: internally displaced people.

Yuli Ben Ami, whose parents, Raz and Ohad, were kidnapped to Gaza, said that she is suffering from severe stress and anxiety over the fate of her parents but is also painfully aware that she can’t stay at the hotel for much longer.

“This is not our home,” said the 27-year-old. “We can’t cook here. We don’t have any of our things. We don’t have anything.”

The eldest of three sisters, Ben Ami recounted how Hamas terrorists and hundreds of non-combatants who followed the terrorists into Israel during the hours-long attack rampaged through her parents’ home, stealing everything of value before setting it on fire.

“They put a bomb in the house and literally exploded our lives,” she said. “The only thing I have left is my community, the kibbutz members. They are around me, helping me all the time.”

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LENT – THE PREPARATION FOR PESACH (PASSOVER)

Posted on March 6, 2024 by David Pugh

Are you crazy? Lent is a Christian tradition. Nothing to do with the Jews.

Wadi Qelt – from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Maybe…

For Jews observing Passover, the preparation is just as important as the meal itself.

Jews prepare by cleaning their homes of bread. They prepare by studying the Exodus story. They prepare through self-examination.

Just as Lent prepares Christians for Easter, these actions prepare Jewish bodies and souls to experience the Passover meal.

For Jews, Passover celebrates the REBIRTH of the Jewish people. During the four hundred years of slavery, the Israelites grew from a clan of 70 to a nation of over a million.

For Christians, Lent is also a period of preparation. It culminates in Easter, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and, effectively, the REBIRTH of humanity.

What better preparation than 40 days of contemplation on the failings of man and the majesty of G-d?

A walk from Jerusalem to Jericho through the valley of repentance.

The Greek word ineffectively translated as “repentance” in the Bible quite literally means “to change your mind” (metanoia), which is the prime function of this season of Lent.

It is not about giving up sweets (or any other concrete thing)!

You can give up all the “sweets” you want yet still be trapped in the old mind.

You can give up no sweets at all, and allow yourself a total “revolution of the mind”.

A REBIRTH.

Preparing for Passover is like getting ready to be reborn.

So is Lent.

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LISTEN, TO THE SOUND OF SIRENS

Posted on March 5, 2024 by David Pugh

The Vice President of the USA states and demands: “People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane, and our common humanity compels us to act… The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses…. Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks.”

Of course, people living in a battle zone are suffering. This is asymmetrical urban warfare at its most complex. Especially exacerbated by one side deliberately using civilians as human shields.

There will be difficulties in supplying aid and ensuring that it goes to those who are in need. Israel is doing the best that it can – as a combatant in a war – to supply its enemy with aid to survive.

The suffering is immense. But to believe that a six week ceasefire will solve the problem is Mary Poppin’s logic at its worst.

This “spoonful of sugar” will do nothing to eradicate a murderous gang of rapist intent on killing Jews and destroying the State of Israel. The exact opposite: it will allow the butchers to regroup and consolidate.

There is only one way in which to “peacefully” end this war and provide for the trapped non-combatants: Hamas release all the hostages, surrenders, and makes its leaders available for criminal proceedings.

Unfortunately, this will never happen. So better to fight on until the end, rather than, as a futile act, to sweeten the medicine.

VP Harris also does Israel a huge disservice by implying that the SOI is not only responsible for the supply of food, fuel and other services to the people of Gaza, but also that it controls the administration and distribution of these services. Israel is at war with clearly defined goals. Unfortunately, these do not include care and comfort of its enemy.

That said, IDF standing orders, demand “Every ground, aerial and naval operational activity and exercise we conduct is first and foremost carried out for the sake of defending the State of Israel and its civilians. Defence is our mission-security is our goal.”

NOT – NOT- NOT the genocide of the Palestinian people.

These attempts by Harris and others to push Israel into the corner labelled “bad guy”, ignore the evidence.

On the day of her speech, the UN released the results of an investigation into the horrors of October 7th and subsequent events.

A team of United Nations experts tasked with gathering information on sexual violence linked to Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks on Israel found “reasonable grounds to believe” that some victims were sexually assaulted, including rape and gang rape.

It found “clear and convincing information” that some of the women and children taken back to Gaza that day by Hamas as hostages were subjected to “rape and sexualized torture and sexualized cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.” There were “reasonable grounds to believe,” it said, “that this violence may be ongoing.”

As, arguably, the most important woman in the USA, Harris was silent about these revelations.

So were all other women’s organisations: from the pink hats to the red stockings. #metoo stops at the Jews.

As to the reason Harris’s silence, I can but speculate: a combination of stupidity and ignorance coupled to a fear of loosing political support of so-called feminists in her own party drove her to use the phrase of Lord Nelsen – “I see no ships” – when placing the telescope to her blind eye.

As for those feminists – the sirens of our times – I can only resort to sexism by suggesting their views must have become distorted by the politics of their current “toy-boy”.

For the reason that it defies all logic that their supposed solidarity has been broken by antisemitism.

Can there be another explanation?

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THE TAO FOR TODAY (KNOW ANY BETTER?)

Posted on February 24, 2024 by David Pugh

1. YOU ALREADY HOLD THE ANSWER TO LIFE’S QUESTIONS.

At the centre of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want.

Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power.

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

2. YOU ARE FREED WHEN YOU LET GO.

By letting it go, it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try; the world is beyond the winning.

Therefore, the Master acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise, and she lets them come; things disappear, and she lets them go. She has but does not possess, acts but doesn’t expect. When her work is done, she forgets it. That is why it lasts forever.

If you want to become whole, let yourself be partial. If you want to become straight, let yourself be crooked. If you want to become full, let yourself be empty. If you want to be reborn, let yourself die. If you want to be given everything, give everything up.

Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles, and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?

3. YOUR EGO WILL NEVER GIVE YOU TRUE PLEASURE.

He who defines himself can’t know who he really is.

He who has power over others can’t empower himself.

He who tries to shine dims his own light.

4. EVIL DIES WHEN IGNORED.

Give evil nothing to oppose, and it will disappear by itself.

5. KINDNESS ALWAYS WINS. EVIL ALWAYS LOSES.

Treat those who are good with goodness, and also treat those who are not good with goodness. Thus, goodness is attained. Be honest to those who are honest, and be also honest to those who are not honest. Thus, honesty is attained.

Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.

6. BE YOURSELF.

Care about people’s approval, and you will be their prisoner.

When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.

7. BE HUMBLE AND YOU SHALL BE WISE.

The wise man is one who, knows what he does not know.

All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power.

8. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE, SO EMBRACE IT.

If you realize that all things change, there is nothing you will try to hold on to. If you are not afraid of dying, there is nothing you cannot achieve.

New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.

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HAVE YOU EVER FAILED?

Posted on February 22, 2024 by David Pugh

When you realize you’ve failed spectacularly, what’s the next move?

For the Israelites, throwing a good old-fashioned lament party was the way to go. Lamenting was all the rage in their tradition, thanks to its prime real estate in the Book of Psalms. Post-exile prayers in the Old Testament were all about finding that encouragement and comfort.

Their prayers went a little something like this: “Okay, we messed up big time and totally deserve all this trouble. But are we down in the dumps? Heck no! We admit our faults, our ingratitude is off the charts, and we’re turning to G-d with this gem: yeah, we messed up big time, but You do You.”

Oh, and let’s not forget that self-hatred and guilt – classic Jewish characteristics, right? But surprise, surprise, it’s not just a “Jewish” thing. It’s become a full-blown myth, a never-ending cycle when it comes to Judaism. God’s all about that freedom vibe, especially with the whole Passover gig – breaking free from slavery and all that jazz.

But wouldn’t you know it, there’s always someone trying to cramp our style in His name – priests, Pharisees, and the myth-makers, oh my! Cue the influx of rules and restrictions. But fear not, because G-d’s got a little something up His sleeve – prophets to smash those restrictions to smithereens.

And let’s talk about the big kahuna of freedom: forgiveness.

If you’re not free from the whole package of hatred, resentment, and personal agendas, forgiveness is a no-go. But here’s the kicker – G-d’s the forgiving type. Why didn’t He obliterate Adam and Eve, or the entire Jewish population when they went off the rails, or anyone post-Christian era who still can’t get on board? Because He forgives us, no matter what shenanigans we pull.

So, let’s cut to the chase: the bottom line of Jesus’ message – without diving into the whole Son of G-d debate – is that:

G-d’s love and forgiveness aren’t based on how good we are, but on how good He is.

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Who has stolen the Gaza children’s innocence

Posted on February 21, 2024 by David Pugh

The Guardian has a piece under the headline >>Gaza Diary: “The kids have gotten really old recently, their innocence stolen“.<<

President of Israel displays Hamas antisemitic education material

The implication is, of course, those nasty Israelis are the guilty ones with their war against Hamas to free the hostages (taken after an obscene pogrom against the Jews) and to secure Israel’s borders. Nothing happened before. No pedagogic hiccups in the development of innocent children.

The educational scene in Gaza has certainly seen its share of twists and turns with the rise of Hamas.

Here’s a peek at the rollercoaster ride known as educational practices under Hamas:

Curriculum and Ideological Influence
Move over, traditional textbooks! Hamas has given the curriculum a makeover, adding a dash of Islamic teachings and ideological perspectives that are so ‘Hamas-approved’.

Gender-Segregated Education
Boys and girls, time to part ways! Hamas introduces the latest trend in educational fashion – gender-segregated schooling. Girls, it’s all about modest attire and walking the walk of traditional gender roles.

Promotion of Militant Resistance
Forget peaceful coexistence, let’s talk about promoting some serious resistance! Hamas is keeping things lively with educational materials that are all about the militaristic and martyrdom narratives.

Challenges and Criticisms
The critics are out in full force, with international entities raising an eyebrow (or two) at the potential for major indoctrination. And let’s not forget the challenge of balancing ideological teachings with, you know, actual skills and knowledge for a well-rounded education.

These educational practices under Hamas are like a wild ride through ideological and political amusement park, leaving us wondering about the thrilling implications for the development and future of the students within this system.

And providing an answer, for those who care, to the question of “Who stole the innocence of the children of Gaza?”

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LEARNING TO READ AGAIN.

Posted on February 20, 2024 by David Pugh

Our image of G-d, our “de facto”, operative image of G-d, lives in a symbiotic relationship with our soul and creates what we become.

Loving people, forgiving people, have always encountered a loving and forgiving G-d. Cynical people are cynical about the very possibility of a coherent, loving centre to the universe. So why wouldn’t they become cynical themselves? Of course, they do.

When we encounter a truly sacred text, the first questions are not: Did this literally happen just as it says? How can I be saved? What is the right thing for me to do? What is the dogmatic pronouncement here? Does my church agree with this? Who is right and who is wrong here?

These are largely ego questions. They are questions that try to secure our position, not questions that make us go on a spiritual path of faith and trust. They constrict us, whereas the purpose of the Sacred is to expand us. Furthermore, they are the first ones that come to our mind because that is where we live, inside our ego, and these are the questions we were also trained to ask (unfortunately!).

How about other questions? Simply having read the text, ask:

What is G-d doing here?

What does this say about who G-d is?

What does it say about how I can also meet this same G-d?

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War over – Hamas gone – Hello Palestine?

Posted on February 14, 2024 by David Pugh

In April 2000, there was this whole drama about Yasser Arafat wanting to declare a Palestinian state all by himself, but then everyone else was like “Hold up, let’s talk about this first.” And now, the US and the UK are apparently thinking about giving the Palestinian Authority (PA) the state nod without asking Israel for permission. I mean, lots of countries already recognize the PA, but according to the Oslo Accords, it’s not officially a state and it’s missing some key state-like features. So, for the Palestinians to really be a state, Israel and the US have to be like “Yep, you’re a state.” If President Biden goes ahead and gives the PA the state thumbs-up, it could totally shake things up in the Middle East and the whole Israeli-Palestinian situation. But hey, a lot of stuff needs to fall into place for that to work out. It’s like a really intense game of political Jenga.

Territory

The situation with whether the US should give a thumbs-up to the Palestinian state, particularly in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, is like trying to referee a game of tug-of-war between two competitive siblings. There’s this concern that if the recognition is limited to certain areas, it’s like offering only half a cookie to someone – the Palestinians might not take it with a smile. On the flip side, Israel is standing there shaking its head at the thought of recognizing the entire West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The proposed solution? Well, it’s like suggesting that everyone sit down for a family meeting to decide who gets the bigger slice of cake. Let’s follow UNSCR 242’s lead and take a step back to 1967. It’s like hitting the rewind button to figure out who had the remote control first. This approach aims to put a big question mark over the map without putting a pause on the whole diplomatic discussion. Let’s see if these negotiators can pull off a magic trick and make the borders disappear like a rabbit in a hat!

Powers

The Oslo Process and subsequent chit-chats between Israel and Palestine were like a complicated relationship status on social media – it was all about creating Palestine after striking a deal with Israel to dodge all the legal drama. If Palestine becomes a state, it’ll be like getting a verified badge on social media – all official and ready to represent its people worldwide and have some serious talks with Israel. Of course, they’ll still need to bargain for some powers with Israel, just like negotiating who gets the last slice of pizza.

Two nation-states for two peoples

To improve the whole Israel-Palestine situation, we’ve gotta give Palestine its moment to shine as a state. Let’s call them “nation-states” and let the Palestinian folks rock their own future. It’s like taking a page from the Clinton Ideas playbook while also giving a nod to Israeli concerns. Oh, and let’s make it super clear that Palestine is all about representing its peeps on the ground, not the PLO or those Palestinians living abroad. And hey, these chill principles should totally make it into Palestine’s rulebook, you know what I mean?

Palestinian refugees

The absolutely groundbreaking idea of recognizing Palestine as the nation-state for all Palestinians is like the ultimate game of musical chairs. Once the Palestinian state is up and running, it’s “adios” to the Palestinian refugees – they’ll be as gone as yesterday’s leftovers. UNRWA can pack up its tents and head home too – no more need for their services. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank could even put on its superhero cape and take over UNRWA’s duties, especially in the West Bank. It’s like a massive organizational reshuffle – out with the old, in with the new!

The case for unilateralism

Since way back in 1993, those Israeli negotiators have been holding onto the idea of recognizing Palestinian statehood like it’s the last piece of chocolate in the box – a precious commodity to be exchanged only for some serious Palestinian concessions. It’s like they used to see negotiations and going solo as two separate paths, with negotiations being the main road and going solo as the hidden shortcut. But hey, turns out successful negotiations need everyone to show up at the same time, and let’s face it, that’s been about as easy as herding cats. Maybe a huge diplomatic shindig led by the good ol’ US of A and backed up by all sorts of global and regional bigwigs is the one and only way to actually move things forward, especially if it means some real perks for both Israel and the Palestinians.

Nascent state

Since the futuristic era of 2000, Israeli leaders and American presidents have been all like, “Hey, let’s turn the Palestinian Authority (PA) into a legit state!” Even though the PA doesn’t tick all the boxes of statehood, everyone’s just nodding like, “Eh, it’s a work in progress.” By stamping the PA with the “beginning state” label, the US and Britain are basically saying, “We got your back – just gotta level up through some serious reforms.” It’s crucial for the Palestinians to high-five the idea of two separate states for two different peoples as a requirement for getting in on the governance action. It’s like learning from history’s bloopers and avoiding a sitcom rerun.

Nine Decades in the Making

Eighty-eight years ago, back in 1936 (a time before smartphones and avocado toast), the Peel Commission swooped in with its grand plan – the two-state solution – to tackle the pesky Arab Revolt. Fast forward seventy-seven years, and the United Nations jumps on board, endorsing this solution to prevent a showdown between Israel and the Arab nations. Ah, the power of diplomacy!

So, everyone thought there’d be a Palestinian state as part of this whole shebang involving Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and the Abraham Accords. There’ve been more attempts at this two-state hustle than failed Tinder dates, with Israelis, Palestinians, and Americans navigating the messy world of politics. And then, boom, recent shenanigans in Gaza bring the whole Palestinian statehood question back into the spotlight.

Some folks reckon that boosting the Palestinian Authority to statehood could be the game-changer in Israeli-Palestinian relations. Imagine that – two states, living together in harmony like a dysfunctional sitcom family. Ah, the things politics throws at us!

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