On the Endless Search for Freedom

According to Morgan Freeman on Our Planet II , “All life on earth depends on the freedom to move”. I watched this documentary last night and since 4th of July  (U.S. Independence Day) is fast approaching, I thought it would be a good idea to write about freedom.

I believe that after love, freedom is one of the most essential pillars of life. But when you think about it, you can’t really have one without the other. Love and freedom are symbiotic. They feed and protect each other. They are what make life dignified. When I see people being denied these two essential basic human rights, it breaks my heart and I find it hard to grasp.

My parents are undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. for about 35 years. There were some opportunities that my parents could’ve taken, but life happens and those opportunities were missed. And now, my parents are stuck in the U.S. without being able to go back to see their families or come visit me here in Germany. My mom hasn’t seen her parents in over 20 years and I can’t even imagine how I would feel if I went that long without seeing my parents. I would die of a broken heart but my parents are like rubber bands, super fucking resilient. 

When our freedom to move is stripped from us, our most human instincts kick in. We either play the love card or the hunger card. But love is the highest card in the game. People will walk, swim, and crawl for it because at the end of the day, love is what keeps us alive. I have seen the Central American and Venezuelan migrant caravans trying to escape their failed and corrupt governments. I have seen images of drowned Syrians and Africans trying to get to Europe, and of course, I have seen images of migrant children in “detention centers”. Ultimately, the goal is the same everywhere: people fighting for freedom. And what happens when they finally reach the promised land—if they even make it—their integration into their new country is systematically denied, and their freedom is restrained all over again.  

Of course, I am biased when it comes to the topic of immigration, I am daughter of immigrants, and now, I am an immigrant in Germany. I was born in the U.S. and people like to compare U.S. citizenship to winning the lottery, and I must admit that having the freedom to move anywhere I want is a privilege that I am thankful for every day. But the truth is, the personal is political. It touches every fiber of our lives, whether we realize it or not.

So this 4th of July, let freedom ring. But let it ring loud and real. Remember: freedom and love are not luxuries, they are human rights. Whether it’s the freedom to move, or the freedom to be you, don’t ever take it for granted.

Comment below and tell me what freedom means to you!

Love Always,

Alejandra G.

*SPECIAL NOTE: On June 14th, more than 600 refugees died on Greek waters and nobody is being held accountable. Click here to read more.