Freedom

A couple of weeks ago I got involved in a discussion on a milblog surrounding how out of place American soldiers seemed in Iraq. The thought of typical American 18-25 year-olds interacting with people in a Muslim country had always rubbed me the wrong way. I knew what I was like at that age. I could see clearly the potential for problems cropping up. Someone challenged me to essentially leave the country so I could appreciate the freedom I enjoyed in the States. I responded that I had left the country, some eight years ago, largely as a result of the lack of freedom in the United States. (No one ever checks profiles anymore). Of course then someone else really layed the challenge on...

"I'm also really curious about the'freedoms' you enjoy in the Czech Republic that you wouldn't enjoy here. Besides smoking in restaurants, I can only imagine you're referring to being free from people that vote for Bush. Seriously, I'd like to know."

and within a few more hours....

"I'm still quite dubious about your claim to be enjoying greater freedoms there but I anxiously await your reply."

Well, I guess he didn't like my reply, because I never got anything back. Everyone knows how these blog arguments go. They are always good for a few healthy exchanges before they fizzle out. But this time, after his double challenge, I answered and never got anything back. I figured, "hey, I must really have something here."

You see, when I was in high school, I was convinced that I lived in the country that enjoyed the greatest level of freedom of all the countries in the world. At the time, that may have been almost true. However, since the fall of communism, many eastern European countries have evolved into countires that enjoy even greater levels of freedom. Perhaps no greater example of this trend can be found but here in the Czech Republic. Certainly, many of the freedoms exist here in a de factor manner: lack of enforcement provides many people with the freedom to pillage large sums of money, for example. But here I am looking at freedoms that people enjoy within the confines of the law. Specifically, things that are against the law in the United States.

1. Alcohol

In the Czech Republic, there is no open container law. The most hillarious thing to a Czech person is the concept of drinking out of a paper bag so the police can't see what you are drinking. When I first spent time here in 1997, we used to sit out on the Charles Bridge all night drinking wine. One night we must have broken 3 bottles of wine on the cobblestones. At about 6am, when the guys come out to sweep up the mess from the night before, I really had to relieve myself. We were way out on the middle of the bridge, and nothing in town would be open, so I decided the best thing to do would be to climb out on the back of one of the statues to get a clear shot at the river below. The clean-up crew was not really thrilled with the idea, but they weren't going to stop me. We comprimised on letting them hold my shirt for safety. In hindsight, it was a good deal for me all the way around.

I've certainly enjoyed being able to drink in public. Whether it be hot wine at Christmas in the Old Town Square, cold beer in the summer at the park, or champagne on the street at New Year's (although I guess they make an exception for that in some places), the lack of public prohibition adds to one's overall sense of freedom.

There is no statute regarding public drunkeness. You can be arrested for causing a disturbance, but whether or not you were drunk when you did would have no bearing whatsoever. Falling down in the street is not considered causing a disturbance unless you are actually falling on people. There is a beer culture here, and almost everyone here has "had one too many" at some point. As a result, there is less stigma on drunkeness. I remember seeing a guy passed out at a bus stop, laying on his back on a big slab of concrete that was considered art by the communists. The sun was blaring down and his face was getting a wicked sunburn. No one seemed to notice much, but when they did, they just sort of chuckled to themselves and then quickly returned to their business. No one stared wide-eyed, or pointed or laughed out loud. Well, I was staring, but I'm an American.

There is also nothing that says people in a car can't drink. However, drivers are given no tolerance. I know people who have been convicted of DUI the next day after a big night of drinking. It seems sensible enough: the other people in the car can do whatever they want, but the driver can't have a sip.

There is no closing time for bars or for the sale of Alcohol. Having said that, the number of places with a 24 hour license is restricted. I'd say there are probably as many of these places in Prague as there are bars in some cities of equal size.

There is no law against distilling your own spirits. The local alcohol is called "slivovice" (sleeve-o-vitz-e). It is made from plumbs which are plentiful here. People set up cooperatives where the amount of plums that one brings in allows a person to buy a certain amount of the slivovice at cost. There are no taxes involved and it is legal to the best of my knowledge.

2. Gambling

Gambling is legal in the Czech Republic. This is kind of sad actually, because they have these machines in the 24 hour bars that make slot machines seem like your friend. I've watched guys dump so much money into these things, it is insane. I mean, it isn't that much money, but these are guys who you know are on a small salary. It is really sad. There is no regulation like in Vegas. If you are dumb enough to put your money into a machine that has a 20% payout rate, well, you will lose your money than the others. There are plenty of casinos complete with blackjack and all the rest. Nothing like the big gambling centers in Monte Carlo, or Vegas, but they do bring in quite a lot of tourist money. Vegas and Atlantic City are exceptions to this law in the States, but here you can gamble wherever you want. Sports bookies are in every town of any decent size.

3. Prostitution

Prostitution is also legal. This is an area of some concern as it is unregulated and untaxed when done by individuals. They don't allow "pimping" but you can run a house, and there are plenty of them. I say it should be regulated and taxed like any other business. Perhaps a little too much freedom here.

4. Nudity

I don't think there is a public nudity law on the books. It would be strange if there was since there are naked people on the state run television stations all the time, not to mention at the beach. I remember seeing a scene in a movie once where this guy was having his way with his wife in the kitchen up against a china cabinet. It was getting pretty intense and the china sounded like it was going to break, and I realized it was two in the afternoon on a Sunday. I asked my wife if she thought that was strange and she didn't seem to think so at all.

As a corellated point, public urination seems to be legal. I've seen plenty of old guys just whip it out on a city street by a tree or just strait into the gutter. Also, parents usually help their kids urinate in public shamelessly. I've seen a five year old boy with his pants around his ankles pissing into the street at a tramstop with his Mom holding his penis for him. I mean, I'm sure you could get arested for that in the states!

But the prevailing logic here seems to be "if you gotta go, you gotta go." Therefore, children, the elderly, and drunks get a lot of leeway.

5. Liability

There are very few legal liability laws on the books. If you get hurt in an accident you are not entitled to pain and suffering. You could try to sue the company for negligence, but it is an uphill battle: precident is not on your side. This allows for a much greater level of general freedom when attending events and visiting public places as the need for ridiculous safety regulations is eliminated. Of course, normal safety regulations are in place, but only McDonalds prints "contents hot" on their to go coffee (in like 10 languages).

6. Freeways

Speed limits inside the city seem too low to me, but that is for the safety of the people who are not driving: the pedestrians. I figure that is fair. Why should pedestrians have to take a risk for an activity they are not even participating in? In the city, things are set up for pedestrians, and the cars just have to make due. But one you leave the city, you are free.Tthe speed limit on the freeway is about 80 mph. However, anything under 100 is about 99% safe, from the police that is. I usually cruise about 90 and I have never had a problem or even a close call. Plenty of people pass me even when I'm doing 100.

I've always thought it was so strange how strictly speeding laws are enforced in the States. I used to drive up to Mammoth Lakes from Los Angeles. You have to go through the Mojave Desert, and that is the interesting part. Then as you skirt the foothills of the Sierras, nothing changes for hours. There is a huge, beautiful freeway ahead of you, not another car in sight, but if you do 80, sooner or later you are going to get popped. I was pulled over on my motorcycle once doing over 100 mph. I was held at gun point, cuffed, and made to kneel on the highway for about 30 minutes. Then I spent the afternoon in jail before they released me with a speeding ticket. I was on an open road, flat and strait for miles without anyone in sight. I wasn't hurting anyone.

In short, the Czech Republic allows a person to do what they want so long as they don't hurt anyone. Having said that, there is a level of personal responsbility required. You can essentially do what you want, but don't expect that every sidewalk, every door entry, every thing you put in your mount or between your legs is going to be safe. You had better watch what the hell you are doing, because no one is going around in front of you making sure for you.

Freedom can be dangerous. It can be messy. Sometimes freedom brings out the worst in people, and most certainly it allows people to destroy themselves. Freedom comes in many forms, but essentially freedom is being able to do what you want to do. It is not a complicated concept. Generally we agree that the freedom to swing one's fist abrubtly ends at the end of the next person's nose. Freedom is not absolute, nor should it be. But freedom should be about doing what you want without fear of reprisal so long as you don't hurt anyone else.

Having been raised in what was nearly the freest country in the world, I place an elevated premium on freedom. More than anywhere else that I have found, the Czech Republic represents the spirit of freedom that I was raised to cherish.