Thanks Scott,
The idea of "Freedom" is not the masochistic Mel Gibson cry which he fashioned for himself at the end of his quasi religious self-sacrifice on behalf of the Scots (in Braveheart), but rather the freedom we grant ourselves and one another out of respect for their humanity.
My idea of freedom is not necessarily freedom to vote or to live in a particular political system, but a freedom to walk, talk and endeaver to fulfil one's dreams.
This I wish for the women working to make Nike Shoes in Bangladesh and the children of the Marsh Arabs in Iraq who have seen their lands dried up. The freedom I wish is for the people of Darfur that they should be able to go home and rebuild their lives and be healed.
The freedom I wish for is that young boys and girls not be drawn to Bankok for the benefit of men in tour packages from Australia and the U.K.
The freedom I wish for is a world where ones surname or skin color does not define one's permission to hopew and dream.
The Jewish Festival of Passover is a reminder to us about the evil of viewing others to be less than oneself. My teaching to my sons, each year at this time, has always emphasized the need to identify with the downtordden and the disadvantaged, the exploited and the ignored.
In that sense I wish everyone a rich and warm year with the ability demand more from ourselves.
Happy Passover to those who would celebrate with us, happy Easter to those who enjoy that festival and to everyone, your camera should be a lantern. Make pictures that move us!
Asher
