I was drawn to listen to the the Reith lectures by
Aung San Soo Kyi or as she is called in Burma, The Lady.
Her freedom taken away from her for many years and most recently under house arrest since 2006, now released but still in a situation whereby she has to do the lecture in secrecy, for fear of recrimination.
When her husband was dying in England she did not dare to request to visit or indeed to see her children. She feared that she would not be able to return.
In the first of the Reith lectures she talks about Liberty and the dedication of her life to gain freedom for the people of Burma. Living under a military dictatorship for so many years people are not free, they live in fear, they cannot communicate with others freely, they cannot move around the country or journey like other people can.
Her political party is the National League for Democracy, they are not asking for a huge amount in our eyes. We who live comfortably in a democratic country may have some grumbles but it is nothing to living under a dictatorship. She argues that the politics of dissent are a difficult place and need people who have passion, responsibility and a sense of proportion but also to have the strength to stand up against those who wish to determine your life for their own good.
Freedom is as given, not for those to seek to take it away.
Freedom is the greatest boundary, for although we are free to be our own masters, we are bound by our own inner laws and codes.
Taking away a person’s freedom is taking away that spirit. In the case of Aung San Soo Kyi and others the freedom is taken away because it is feared by those who issue the laws.
A stronger theological case is under Trinity on Faith Goes Walkabout given for my sermon, 2nd Sunday after Trinity.
And if you have chance download and listen to the Reith Lectures, it is given by Aung San with confidence and in truth.
Revd Sue Martin