Freedom - a fundamental part of human DNA

"Freedom is never dear at any price - it is the breath of life. What would a man not pay for living" - M K Gandhi

The ending of Qaddafi's regime is another reminder to all - that no matter where, authoritarian rule can never survive forever. Oppressed people will always rise up and protest against the oppressors. It's always a matter of time before a despotic ruler or government is brought down by the people - sometimes it takes a little longer than other times - but it's bound to happen. Modern history is replete with these stories - Poland, Russia, all of the former Soviet bloc countries, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines are only a few examples of countries where despotic rulers were overthrown by the masses.

Why is this inevitable? Because I believe that all human beings fundametally seek freedom and dignity in their lives above everything else. Freedom to live a life of their choice and to lead it with dignity. Take it away from them and somewhere you have sowed the seeds of resentment and revolt. Most people dont mind rules - but they do mind being exploited, trampled and being beaten up.

In today's world with advanced means of communication and access to information, people's notions of what they will put up with has evolved as have notions of what's right and wrong. They are less willing to put with being exploited. Or have their right taken away. We saw this in Egypt - and we see that strong authoritarian governments put heavy restrictions onthe use of the internet and social media. But these governments don't realize that surpressionj of freedom wont last forever. This is how civilizations evolve.

let me end with a quote by John Adams - from a letter to James Lloyd, on October 1, 1822
"Individual liberty is individual power, and as the power of a community is a mass compounded of individual powers, the nation which enjoys the most freedom must necessarily be in proportion to its numbers the most powerful nation."