Ser Independiente

Freedom makes and destroys a man.

Ser Independiente is, a Spanish phrase meaning be independent the Spanish phrase evokes a memorable and cementing effect upon the whole independence vibe. I equate it to the ancient Greek poets such as Homer and Hesiod summoning the muses and attention of the audience with just one poetic phrase. Over the past few days, I have been thinking about this common word. I know man realizes his strengths and weaknesses in the state of freedom or independence because he can decide what he feels is right to do. Freedom makes and destroys a man.

This goes down to the basic feature which is actions. Again how much does one need to be free to be happy? In our life the situations govern our choices; we can never claim to be independent. However, we have the power to make our own choices as fully mature people. Independence is a state we all yearn for, in my African history class it was challenging to remember all the dates that most African countries gained independence in such a close sequence during the 1960s’ it was like a fashionable era of gaining independence. The means that most countries used were either violence or peaceful boycotts or simply operating within the law. All this to taste, the sweet waters of freedom, which we enjoy today as a country Kenya. To claim to be independent is to say that as a mature person I decide where I am to go and what I am to do .

This is a positive outlook on the value of independence, but I am thinking about the people who value independence as the call to be completely self-reliant in almost everything. It is just not possible we all need one another; I have something that I can give on the other hand I am always ready to receive. That is just the basic makeup of human existence we all need one another. No matter how much we yearn to live on our own little island. Sometimes we have reasons to be independent because of the way people fail to meet our expectations and we entirely depend on them.

I sought to think about this notion of independence and the resulting lessons I learned:

We as humans have the power to make our own decisions; being an adult clearly makes us be responsible for our actions, decisions, and taxes! Yes, taxes. It is a way the government reminds us that we need to pay up being an adult besides the benefits of taxation and the usual 16 % Vat. Life being an adult demands a high degree of independence away from our parents.

It does not mean being autonomous; we obviously need one another it is impossible to be a one-man show like Gadget Boy (for all cartoon lovers), he always had a handy gadget to save himself from any situation. A perfectly normal person yes is capable of many things but we are never self –contained we manifest our abilities by interacting with other people and we live happily through endless human interaction. We give and receive that is why we have hands to let go and hold on.

Independence defines your self-worth. There is this enlightening feeling you get when you realize I am responsible for your choices. I have the luxury to define my life; I seem to understand why countries strived to be free from oppression, and why some few heroes sought to pay the ultimate price with their lives for later generations to be free. As an individual live in a moment of freedom but choose wise and well-thought-out choices.