Global Q&A: 'Has your country has struck a good balance between personal freedom and security?'
Few places around the world today provide both personal freedom and a sense of security. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Peru to India found when they asked locals: Do you feel your country has struck a good balance between personal freedom and security?
Penka Georgieva, 31, Accountant
Under the pretext of national security, personal communication via the Internet and conversations over the mobile are followed excessively. Evidence for this is the recently announced information by the Internal Ministry about the amount of tapped traffic data. Despite the large amount, only a small percent reaches a courtroom for prosecution. People have the feeling they live in one big, Big Brother society. This creates the sensation that they cannot figure out by themselves what is good for them, and someone else has to do that for them instead. For the purposes of marketing or politics, peoples behavior is investigated, and when someone starts to complain, he is proclaimed paranoid.
Reinaldo Alfonso Mendoza Hernndez, 50, Veterinarian
Today, there isnt a real balance in our country between individual safety and personal liberty, and especially for young people; a large percentage of the population has no respect for authority because it has not been encouraged at home. Due to serious conflicts and a lack of affection in the homes resulting in low self-esteem, the youth seek recognition in groups outside the law. Public safety law that imposes severe punishment for young offenders could reduce the crime committed. A balance is not achieved because there is an added ingredient of poverty and crisis in the family system.
Falticeni, Romania
Constantin Bulboaca, 57, History Teacher
In a state governed by the rule of law, we can talk about this balance. But we cannot talk yet about the rule of law in Romania. There is no security and the human rights are often violated. The whole situation is not normal. Of course, there are forces that militate for a change to improve this situation. The rule of law sets a balance between the human rights and what a state offers, and we are heading toward this.
Shahid Ali, 35, Sales
I believe every society should have personal freedom and security; that is just basic. Unfortunately, Pakistani society has neither right now. Most of the public is too busy trying to survive and make a living; they are thinking about how to support their families and deal with inflation. They dont know their own rights, that they even have rights. Neither does Pakistan have security. Most of the public feels very insecure about their safety, from the lower class to upper class. The poor are dying in suicide bomb attacks almost on a daily basis, and most upper leaders, like governors, ministers and ex-prime ministers, are being murdered in public. A big part of the solution is better education.
Virginia Sandlin, Business Consultant and Doctoral Psychology Candidate
Yes I do. Many of the things that! they ha ve in effect from the government that have to do with security, particularly take care of when we have ingress or egress into the country. I also live in Arizona, and down there, there is a problem with people coming over the borders, because there is a lot of desert down there. There is a real problem down there with border security because people come in from all over the world bringing drugs and guns in through Mexico. And because there is over 200 miles of desert, it is definitely difficult to handle the borders.
Julia Baker, 31, Business Analyst
Yeah, I think so. There havent been too many major incidents, and its not too much of a hassle for us to go about our daily lives; it doesnt really impact us. Basically airports, and for us its not such an issue getting into schools and stuff. So like in countries like America, it looks like its impacting peoples lives a lot. As for us, we can just go about our daily lives and I get a feeling that in the background, there are security checks going on, but it doesnt really impact me.
Jyoti R. Bathija, 65, Homemaker
Yes, I definitely feel India has struck a good balance between providing both personal freedom and security. Especially, in the city of Bangalore, one can feel safe traveling alone or going out at night, even if it is after 11 p.m. Awareness is ever increasing, and regarding the issue of personal freedom, people, especially the men, are becoming more broad-minded these days, and hence freedom has definitely increased, and we feel quite happy and settled. India has radically changed on this front, and its a good development.
Julia Rivera, 42, Business Assistant
I dont think there is balance in my country. Personal freedom and independence to develop oneself is achievable, but as for security in the streets, there isnt any. The existence of crime depends on the location; only in certain privileged areas is there safety. For example, the mayor of my district is my neighbor and we have enough security.
Sabina Lundgren, 23, Student Teacher
Yes, I think so. Everyone has the opportunity to vote and then you can have an influence. They are a bit heavy-handed against the criminals right now, but I think that is needed so that the security work in society is working.
Chris Tawns, 62, Brickies Labourer
No personal freedoms, security no, the country has gone pear shaped over the last 20 years. The way the governments handle things, dont matter if its a labor government or the national government or whoever is in there. They all say they are going to do this and they do nothing. Australia has gone down the tubes. They piled all this money overseas for devastation yet they cant look after their own people in Australia who are sleeping on the streets, who have got no food and yet theyll send millions of dollars offshore. Australia is supposed to be a place where ! we look after our own people.
Isa Pantoja, 42, Management Assistant & Marketing Support
Yes, I think that in Spain there is a balance between security and respect for individual freedom. Citizens have the ability to govern themselves, to know, understand, discern, and decide, is one of the greatest assets of the individual, inherent in its status as a person. In Spain, the right against invasion of privacy by the government, corporations, or individuals is guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution and bylaws of privacy. Furthermore, the traditional media, such as mail, certified mail, post office boxes, etcetera, are quite safe. However, the widespread use of electronic communication systems, the privacy and anonymity of people are increasingly threatened.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next weeks global question: Do you think refugees are treated well in your country?
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